21 August 2023 , 14:31
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Alan Shearer is still expecting Harry Maguire to leave Manchester United this summer, despite his £30m to West Ham collapsing.
Maguire has fallen down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag and it appeared he was set to complete a move to the Hammers after David Moyes confirmed United had accepted a bid.
However, the transfer ultimately fell through with it claimed Maguire wanted a £10m pay-off to leave United with two years still left on his lucrative £190,000-a-week contract. And Shearer believes both parties are "playing a bit of a game" and that a compromise will eventually be reached that will result in Maguire leaving Old Trafford.
"I get why he's not [leaving United] though," Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I totally get his stance. It's clear he doesn't want to and it's clear he [Ten Hag] doesn't fancy him. Pay him up and let him go.
"I think both parties are playing a bit of a game. I would be surprised if Harry would still be at Manchester United at the end of the window." Former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage believes Maguire has to leave United otherwise he is risking his England spot ahead of the Euros.
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"If he had joined the Hammers and played regularly, national team coach Southgate would have been able to assess Maguire's claims for a place in England's Euro 2024 squad based on form," Savage told Mirror Football .
"But if he is destined to be a stop-gap at the back for United – as seems likely – the Three Lions coach will have to decide whether to stand by a player who is not getting as many minutes on the pitch as he would like for his club. If it's a gamble for Maguire to stay put at United, it's also a gamble for Southgate to keep picking him for England."
Maguire has fallen down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag (Will Palmer/Allstar)Although Gareth Southgate has repeatedly backed Maguire, he has already admitted he cannot "guarantee" him an England place. "If he's not in the team he's got a decision to make as to whether he can go and play regular football somewhere else,"Southgate told talkSPORT earlier this month when asked about Maguire's future.
"Put England aside, the start point for any player is are they fulfilled in their job. Most players want to play every week. I can never guarantee a player we're going to pick them.
"It's [Maguire and John Stones ] a partnership that's worked brilliantly for us, so we recognise that, but there's always new challenges coming through. There are some good young centre-backs coming through who are slowly picking up experience and that is going to be the challenge going forward."