Staff Reporter.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said Harry Maguire needs to “prove” he’s worthy of a starting spot, or should leave Manchester United, amid reports that the defender is on the verge of completing a transfer to West Ham United.
Ten Hag stripped Maguire of the captaincy last month after the 30-year-old made only eight Premier League starts last season, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof preferred in central defence.
British media reported that West Ham had agreed a deal worth 30 million pounds ($38.01 million) for Maguire, who became the world’s most expensive defender when United signed him from Leicester City for 80 million pounds in 2019.
For Harry, he has to fight for his place,” Ten Hag told reporters ahead of Monday’s game against Wolves. “He has the ability to be a top-class centre-back, he is the best for England so why shouldn’t he be the best for us?
“But he has to prove it. When he is not confident enough to go with that fight then he has to go, he has to make the decision. But I am happy with him.
“We don’t have a squad with 11 players. Last year proved definitely we need all the players, so you need high-level players who are maybe not starting but that can change, so there is an internal competition and everyone has to fight for his place.
United host Wolverhampton Wanderers in their Premier League opener later on Monday.
Ten Hag’s comments come as The Telegraph reports West Ham are still ‘confident’ of getting a deal for Maguire over the line.