Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly decided he will look to sell Harry Maguire and Fred in a brutal clear-out in the summer transfer window.
Maguire has lost his place in the Red Devils' starting line-up since Ten Hag was appointed manager. Instead, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have emerged as the Dutchman's first-choice pairing, with Maguire relegated to a place on the bench.
He remains the most expensive defender is football history, with United having paid £80million to sign him from Leicester City in 2019. But he has struggled to live up to that price tag and has experienced a dreadful period of form over the past 18 months.
Now it seems like Ten Hag is ready to cut ties with the centre-back, despite seeing him named in England's squad for the upcoming World Cup. According to The Guardian, the Red Devils are ready to accept offers for the 29-year-old in the summer.
It is said that Ten Hag is 'intent on selling' the current United skipper, with the Premier League side accepting they will make a considerable loss on what they paid for him. Ten Hag is hoping to use the sale of Maguire to fund an overhaul of his squad.
Maguire is currently in the middle of a six-year contract, with a salary of £190,000 per week. That means that United will be unlikely to bring in a fee anywhere near the record price they paid for him.
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Though Ten Hag is said to admire his professionalism, Maguire's sluggish pace is seen as a 'problem'. Instead, the United boss wants to add 'true competition' for Varane and Martinez to enhance the quality of his defensive options.
Maguire is not the only member of the United squad at risk of Ten Hag's ruthless clear-out. The United boss is also said to be preparing to release midfielder Fred when his contract expires at the end of the season.
While the Red Devils hold an option to extend his deal by a further 12 months, they are not expected to activate it. Though Ten Hag has been impressed with Fred's application and team ethic, the United boss is keen to overhaul his midfield options.
If Fred does depart as anticipated, it will mean that Ten Hag is moving on £132m worth of players in the summer window. Like Maguire, Fred will also feature at the World Cup, though it appears neither of the duo have a future at Old Trafford.
Southgate has faced criticism for selecting Maguire in his England squad despite his dreadful form. But Ten Hag has backed the centre-back to play a key role for the Three Lions in Qatar this winter.
“I think that he is ready. I see him every day at training, I see his games. He came back from injury, but he is ready to perform on the highest level,” he said ahead of United's trip to Fulham.
