Manchester United Must Make A Decision On The Future Of Harry Maguire

Manchester United’s need for a new dominant centre back was clear and this was reflected in the world record £80m transfer fee they paid for Harry Maguire in the summer of 2019. Three years on, though, the Old Trafford outfit still require a leader at the back with Maguire enduring an extremely difficult individual season.

Maguire’s struggles certainly haven’t been in isolation. Indeed, Manchester United have underwhelmed with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked as manager after a poor start to the season while interim manager Ralf Rangnick has found it difficulty to get his ideas and methods across to a stubborn group of players.

Nonetheless, United have a decision to make on the future of Maguire. Raphael Varane was signed from Real Madrid in part to mask some of Maguire’s weaknesses as the England international’s centre back partner, but the Frenchman has suffered his own struggles this season through injury.

Even when Varane has made it on to the pitch, his relationship with Maguire has appeared uncomfortable. Victor Lindelof has in fact looked a better partner for Varane with the Swede not so prone to as many individual errors as Maguire. In Manchester United’s central defensive rankings, Maguire could be as low as third.

After nearly three full seasons at Old Trafford, it’s unlikely Maguire will straighten out his fundamental weaknesses. The 29-year-old is slow on the turn, can be sluggish on the ball and frequently loses track of opponents around him. As an elite level performer, Maguire certainly has his shortcomings.

If Manchester United can find a buyer, or maybe even a loan suitor, for Maguire this summer, they might be tempted to cut their losses. The 29-year-old’s club form could also be a problem for England with the 2022 World Cup on the horizon. Gareth Southgate has publicly admitted Maguire has given him something to think about.

“He got us to a World Cup semi‑final and the European Championship final so there’s no doubt he’s more than capable of playing at the highest level,” Southgate recently explained when asked about his faith in Maguire. “He was very good for us in the autumn and the club are in a difficult moment. There could be any number of reasons for that.

“But that doesn’t mean that players can be poor for a couple of years and then still find their way in and sometimes it depends on competition for positions. We’ve obviously left some forward players out who haven’t been in good form. But there’s direct replacements, experienced replacements for those players. So as I say, it is a complicated decision.”

It’s widely expected that Manchester United will identity a new manager who will take their place for the start of next season in the coming weeks and with that appointment Maguire might receive another opportunity to make a good impression. However, United’s new manager might look at the last three years and decide no further evidence is required. Maguire’s career at the club is approaching a critical juncture.