Mark Hughes expects Manchester United exit for Harry Maguire amid West Ham United bid
Mark Hughes believes the “only way forward” for Harry Maguire is to leave Manchester United this summer, with the player having been subject to a bid from West Ham.
As per David Ornstein (28 July), the Hammers made a £20million bid for the centre-back, which was rejected by the Red Devils.
Despite the rejected bid, former Manchester United player Hughes believes the defender needs to move on this summer.
“That’s the only way forward for Harry,” Hughes said live on talkSPORT. “He’s clearly a significant player for his national team, and he’ll want to continue to be that, and he won’t be able to do that playing for Manchester United reserves, which looks like his only option at the moment.
“He needs to move, he needs to get his career back on track, he needs to be playing week in week out, that’s the level of player that he is and that should be his expectation. I’m sure it is, so I expect him to move on and get his career back on track.”
Summer exit on the cards?
It remains to be seen if Maguire will be allowed to leave Manchester United this summer, or indeed if he even wants to leave.
The experienced defender is perhaps eager to stay at Old Trafford and fight for a starting place under manager Erik ten Hag.
But that is an unlikely scenario given the presence of world-class stars Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, who formed a strong partnership at the heart of the club’s defence last season.
It looks certain to be a similar situation next season, resulting in more bench time for England international Maguire.
West Ham clearly want to sign the centre-back to bolster their options in that area, but so far they have not improved upon their £20million offer for the 30-year-old.
Regular playing time is not exactly guaranteed at the London Stadium due to the presence of the likes of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, but it is more likely to arrive there than at Old Trafford.
In other West Ham news, a pundit has questioned the club’s move for one Premier League player as a David Moyes sack verdict is shared.