Harry Maguire is reportedly open to leaving Manchester United in the January transfer window amid his lack of game time at Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire has had a rollercoaster ride at Manchester United since signing in 2019. The England centre-back joined the club for an £80 million fee from Leicester City, which remains the record for the highest fee ever paid for a defender.
He started his career at Old Trafford in mixed fashion under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and was promoted to captain midway through his first campaign, but his performances faltered, and he became a regular target for criticism and abuse.
Following Erik ten Hag’s arrival, Bruno Fernandes came to the fore as a leader at the club and was handed the armband, but the Englishman started to gather some good form and really rose to prominence under the Dutchman and Rúben Amorim.
But, after playing a lot of the first few monthso fhte 2025/26 campaign, he suffered a hamstring issue, and has only just returned to the squad after two months.
Maguire open to leaving United in January
Amid his injury, Maguire has watched 19-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven flourish in his position, as well as Lisandro Martínez return. When Matthijs de Ligt also makes his comeback from injury, Maguire is likely going to be the fourth or fifth choice centre-back under Michael Carrick.
With his chances limited, Italian football journalist Marco Conterio has claimed that the 32-year-old is now open to leaving the club as early as January.
Conterio claims that multiple Serie A clubs, including Napoli, Fiorentina, and Inter Milan, are “seriously evaluating” a move for Maguire, either now or in the summer, when his contract expires.
Maguire is said to already have proposals on the table and is very much open to a move to Italy.
It must also be considered that, with England not having a vast depth of quality centre-backs, Maguire no doubt has aspirations to make Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
Maguire and Casemiro yet to sign new deals
Maguire and Casemiro are two of United’s current crop of ageing players, and combined earn over £2 million a month in wages. Both players’ contracts are also set to expire in the summer.
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According to a MailSport report last month, neither player has received any concrete fresh contract offer from United, and the club has also not triggered Casemiro’s 12-month extension option.
United are reportedly looking to sign both a new centre-back and at least one new midfielder in the summer, and both players could be moved on as free agents once the season ends to free up space in the squad.
As of 1 January, both players have been free to discuss pre-contract agreements with other clubs, so news of moves away for both players is likely to surface over the coming months, if not sooner.
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