Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been encouraged to move to Premier League rivals Chelsea this summer. The England international might struggle for first-team football at Old Trafford after the arrival of £58 million sensation Leny Yoro.
Instead of playing backup to Yoro and Lisandro Martinez, the 31-year-old has been advised to explore a potential switch to Chelsea. The club was heavily linked with the center-back in January.
Ideal Replacement for Thiago Silva
United icon Dwight Yorke, speaking to BoyleSports, thinks Maguire could be an ideal replacement for Thiago Silva. Silva left Chelsea on a free transfer this summer.
“Harry Maguire could sit out the last year of his contract and know he’s going to play at some point due to injuries. But United really need to be ruthless and get rid of him,” Yorke said. “They have Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and maybe Leny Yoro. But Harry Maguire is in the position that he doesn’t have to go anywhere if he doesn’t want to.”
Fresh Start at Chelsea
“The opportunity had passed to get rid of him because he desperately wanted to be at Euro 2024 and he would have done anything to play. That was the time to move him so he could get regular football. So that opportunity passed and he’s still there.”
“We need to freshen things up at United and bring new faces in to take the future of the football club forward rather than backwards.”
“Having said that, Maguire has shown he is very capable of playing at the highest level still. Elite clubs like Chelsea, who are trying to rebuild, might take a chance on Maguire.”
No Guarantees for Starting Position
Maguire missed Euro 2024 with a calf injury. He has been training hard in pre-season to impress Ten Hag at Carrington. For the first time in his five-year career at Old Trafford, Maguire will start the season with no guarantees from the Dutchman that he has a chance of starting games.
Maguire made 22 appearances in the Premier League last season. His return to the first team largely coincided with United being hit by an unprecedented defensive injury crisis. In addition to signing Yoro, Ten Hag can also count on Martinez, Jonny Evans, and Victor Lindelof as alternative center-back options.
Possible Transfer Fee
Ten Hag may view Maguire as the most sellable asset. The club would be looking to attract a sizeable fee following his world-record £80 million transfer from Leicester City in 2019.
Nothing concrete suggests Chelsea would return for Maguire after previously seeing a bid turned down in January 2023. But Yorke thinks he could play well into his 30s and be a useful squad member for the west London club.
“He can clearly still play at the level. A fresh start might just give him that injection to really perform again for another year or two at that top level. So you never know. I played until I was 36. I’m never going to write someone off if they’re still in their early 30s. He’s still got the attributes to do that.”
“Players do improve if the team is doing well and winning football matches. Football becomes very easy to play. It is only difficult when things are not going well. Then you realize who is really good and who isn’t.”
“With Thiago Silva leaving Chelsea, there’s a gap for an experienced player like Maguire to move into.”
