What next for Harry Maguire after Man United captaincy axe?

Harry Maguire has a decision to make: stick or twist? The Manchester United defender was stripped of the captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag in a ruthless, but not unexpected, axing on Sunday.

Though he wants to stay and fight for his place, his first-team prospects – and his long-term future at United – look limited. Ten Hag’s decision could be a watershed moment in the centre back deciding his time is now up.

England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted he is concerned by Maguire’s lack of game time, meaning his chances of featuring at Euro 2024 – just 11 months away – could be significantly dented if he continues to warm the bench at Old Trafford.

United would be willing to sell him for the right price, and with West Ham interested, a move away could suit all parties. Will Maguire decide, and make known, that he wants to leave this summer?

Below, Mail Sport assesses his options and discusses which club would suit him best if he can secure a move away during the transfer window. 

Removed as captain by ruthless Ten Hag

Manchester United was a hot mess of a club when Ten Hag took over. In that context, perhaps it made sense that the Dutchman retained Maguire as captain. Yet even in those early stages, his reign as captain was on shaky ground. 

Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba were part of a delegation which urged interim boss Ralf Rangnick to drop him. Influential veteran Ronaldo – now at Al-Nassr – took him Maguire to task in the dressing room for saying in a TV interview after one game that United’s forwards had to take their chances.

That situation was salvageable when he was a first-team regular. But with the return from injury of the classy Raphael Varane, and the £55m summer arrival of Ten Hag’s man Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, the Yorkshireman’s first-team chances were always going to be limited. 

Maguire only made eight Premier League starts last season and by the end of the campaign was effectively fifth-choice, with Victor Lindelof ahead in the pecking order and even left-back Luke Shaw used out of position instead of him.

When United won the Carabao Cup in February, Maguire came off the bench in the 88th minute and lifted the trophy. He didn’t even get on the pitch in the FA Cup final three months later, even though Martinez was out injured. Maguire loitered on the periphery afterwards as United’s players absorbed their defeat against Man City. 

It painted a picture of a man on the brink. That came to a head in talks over his future on Sunday, when the decisive Ten Hag fronted up to the awkward situation and made official what fans had known for a long time: that the 30-year-old’s captaincy was merely nominal, with Bruno Fernandes now expected to take over permanently.

His legacy as captain is mixed; he took his role very seriously and away from the pitch, Maguire continues to make a brilliant impression through his work with the club’s foundation and regularly takes time to watch and support the women’s and youth sides. 

To Maguire’s credit, he revealed Ten Hag’s decision himself in a frank tweet and was widely praised by supporters – and club legend Gary Neville – for his mature and ‘utterly professional’ response and taking the news ‘like a champ’. Where that leaves his future at Old Trafford is another question, though.

Does he have a future at United and England?

Maguire is happy at the club, wants to stay and fight for his place, and make an impact for club and country. He is confident of a more prominent role and believes he will still get chances to play at a high level as United return to the Champions League this season – more so given Varane and Martinez’ injury absences last term.

Indeed, he has knuckled down and put in extra work already this summer, notably undergoing intense training at the camp of legendary former Chelsea and Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho in Portugal, with a gruelling three sessions a day.  

Moreover, United certainly aren’t forcing him out. The Red Devils respect his commitment and are happy to let him stay and compete to get back in the side and recognise he would need to be replaced if he departs.

But they cannot offer him regular game-time and eight league starts doesn’t seem nearly enough for a player who has effectively been told by England boss Gareth Southgate that he needs first-team football to be guaranteed a starting place at the Euros next summer. 

So he will be allowed to leave if a £40m offer comes in – representing a £40m loss after his £80m move in 2019 – as United look to raise funds to help offset their spending and rebuild their squad. Whether United get that fee, or an amount they consider appropriate, remains to be seen.

For England, he is a highly valued and respected member of the squad, a trusted lieutenant with 57 caps and strong major-tournament experience. Team-mates have spoken out in support, with Jordan Pickford insisting he deserves more respect and City’s Jack Grealish labelling England crowds booing him as ‘ridiculous’.

Three Lions boss Southgate, for his part, said in June: ‘That is a difficult situation. He will obviously be frustrated not to play as much as he would like but I think he has handled that really well. He has publicly talked well about supporting the team.

‘It is clear, really. I think Harry and Kalvin are the two who have played the least in terms of guys in this squad this season but we have gone with them because we think they are still ahead of others that might have played more. 

‘But it is then hard when that competition gets more even and you are not playing regularly to see their form, see their fitness so that is the challenge for everybody.’

Though he has never let England down at international level, may well struggle to keep his starting place given the emergence of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, though a squad position seems likely.

So what are his realistic options?

Maguire can either stay at Old Trafford and simply hope he gets his place back, though there is little indication his game-time will improve, which would likely lead to him being dropped by England, or he could push for a move. 

Though he is a genuine professional and seems highly unlikely to kick up a fuss, refuse to train or hand in a transfer request, an honest conversation with Ten Hag stating he is happy to go and play regularly if United get a fair fee could grease the wheels of a move.

West Ham are interested in him to strengthen their leaky defence, with David Moyes known to be a fan.

The Hammers are flush with cash after selling midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal in a club-record £105million deal and Moyes is willing to offer Maguire a chance of a fresh start elsewhere in the Premier League.

Moyes’ centre backs Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma both suffered serious injuries last season, while veteran Angelo Ogbonna is 35 and Thilo Kehrer has been used at full-back as well as struggling with inconsistent performances. 

United had sounded out West Ham about taking some of their players in exchange for Rice earlier in the window and Maguire’s name was one raised by West Ham, while United also proffered Scott McTominay and Anthony Elanga. 

A potential barrier to a move would be that he would need to take a substantial pay cut to fit in with the Hammers’ wage structure. The Guardian have reported that he received a ‘considerable’ wage hike as a reward for United qualifying for the Champions League by finishing third last season.

If United get the right offer, Maguire would need to weigh up whether the lesser pay would be worth it to boost his game-time and international chances. 

What club would suit him best amid West Ham links?

West Ham seem a good fit. 

They have the available funds to buy him for approaching United’s asking price and the budget to stretch to a reasonably competitive wage offer – though, as mentioned, Maguire would need to accept a pay cut.

Moyes and Co will also play in the Europa League next season after winning the Europa Conference League, and Maguire would be a big fish in a small pond. He would be genuine first choice and his signature would be a coup for West Ham.

That love and nurturing atmosphere would be a far cry from the pressure and scrutiny – some of it unfair, some not – he receives at Old Trafford.

Most other Premier League clubs either could not afford him, or could afford him but would not be sufficiently improved to consider buying him.

Aston Villa have just spent big on Villarreal’s Pau Torres, splashing out on a big-name star isn’t the modus operandi at Brighton, while Chelsea are stacked at centre back. Newcastle or Tottenham could be an option.

A left-field suggestion – what about Italy? Chris Smalling has performed well since moving to Roma, while Fikayo Tomori has also impressed at AC Milan. The slower-paced Serie A could suit his slight lack of mobility.

It’s certainly a lot to weigh up!