Erik ten Hag has declared club captain Harry Maguire is free to leave the club if he chooses.
Harry Maguire is the Manchester United skipper in name only, selected to start only eight Premier League games from a possible 38 this season.
Many supporters expect Maguire will leave the club in the summer in pursuit of more regular football.
While he made this latest England squad, his place for Euro 2024 would be at risk if he has another repeat of this season at Old Trafford.
READ MORE: Manchester United transfer history 2013 to present day
Harry Maguire can decide his future
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he likes having Maguire around, but ultimately it will be a decision left to the defender.
The boss told The Times: “Let’s say I’m happy he’s here and when we needed him he did his job. But it’s also a decision he has to make.”
He added: “No one would be happy with this situation. He is not as well. He trains always on best levels, so with 100 per cent effort.
“So he handles that situation well and he’s in that manner and in his captaincy he’s important for the squad.”
Manchester United paid £80 million for Harry Maguire in 2019, and he remains one of the club’s most expensive ever signings.
But there is real competition for places at United, with Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof all in front of him.
So too is left-back Luke Shaw, who has been preferred at centre-back to Maguire.
The FA Cup final is upcoming this weekend and there is little prospect of Maguire starting. It’s quite possible that this expected high-profile snub will accelerate his desire to move on.
Ten Hag won’t stand in his way. United are said to be eyeing Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae as a replacement, Goal report.
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