Ferdinand's ominious Harry Maguire warning as Ten Hag plans ruthless clear-out
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire appears to have been encouraged to leave Old Trafford in pursuit of more game time by both ex-Red Devil Rio Ferdinand ahead of a summer of upheaval.
The central defender has found himself on the bench for the majority of Erik ten Hag's debut season at the helm of United, with the Dutchman preferring a centre-back pairing of Raphael Varane and summer signing Lisandro Martinez.
Ten Hag is thought to be plotting a mass Old Trafford exodus this summer and Maguire is believed to be one of the most high-profile players on the list. As many as 13 of the current crop could bid farewell in the coming months, with the United boss keen on trimming his bloated squad ahead of next term.
Some famous faces are of the belief that an end to his United chapter would actually be good for Maguire, Ferdinand certainly seems to think so.
The former Red Devils ace has often been outspoken in his stance that the time for Maguire and United to part ways is here, with Ferdinand questioning why the 30-year-old was still at the club back in January.
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He has done so again more recently, with Ferdinand urging Maguire to find a new side while speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel podcast.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Maguire leave Man Utd this summer? Comment below
Harry Maguire has fallen down the pecking order this season at Old Trafford (Getty Images)"I think he needs to. If he wants to resurrect his career he has to go in the summer. He cannot stay there and play second fiddle. If he genuinely wants to stay as an England player and get back on track."
In worrying news for Maguire, it would appear as if England boss Gareth Southgate agrees. The Three Lions manager has often been accused of being over-reliant on Maguire and handing the former Leicester man minutes his club form didn't deserve.
However, even Southgate conceded Maguire's reduced amount of football this term could lead to consequences at international level.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday after naming his England team for the upcoming Euro qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, Southgate discussed Maguire and Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, both of whom were named in the squad.
"Inevitably it’s not a situation that can continue forever," he said of Maguire. "It’s like Kalvin Phillips, they are important players for us and with Kalvin we haven’t got many players who can play as that single [midfield] pivot."
With Maguire now effectively United's fifth-choice central defender behind Varane, Martinez, Victor Lindelof and even traditional left-back Luke Shaw, the writing is on the wall regarding his United career.
If he wants to keep his England one alive, Maguire may have to make a move from Manchester as soon as this summer.
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