The internal competition was tough enough, but now world-class defender Kim Min-jae, 27, is on the verge of entering the fray. English Premier League (EPL) Manchester United captain Harry Maguire (30) has received a ‘slap in the face’ from his manager.
“United manager Louis van Gaal has said that Maguire ‘shouldn’t be happy in his current role,'” British outlet TeamTalk reported on Tuesday.
Maguire’s arrival at United from Leicester City in 2019 was so highly anticipated that it set a record for the highest transfer fee ever paid for a defender (£80 million). He has since lived up to his billing, anchoring United’s defense.
However, the last two seasons have been his worst. In fact, it was even mocked that United’s defenders performed better when he wasn’t on the pitch. Even in the 2022-23 season, his place in the team was limited to just eight league starts. With the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane already holding down the fort at the back, it’s not easy to break into the team.
More recently, United have been linked with a move for one of the best defenders in Europe, Kim Min-Jae. United, who have always wanted Kim Min-jae, recently revealed the specific terms of the deal: “Join in early July, transfer fee 58 million euros 안전놀이터 (approx. KRW 82.1 billion)”. On July 22, TeamTalk reported, “Van Gaal is looking to implement the second phase of the club’s rebuilding program. United want to reach a positive conclusion with Kim Min-jae.”
After leading Napoli (Italy) to the title in the 2022-23 season, Kim’s stock has skyrocketed. If the Red Devils are able to bring him in, they will be able to bolster their defense. “Maguire’s future at United looks bleak,” the outlet noted.
In response, Van Gaal urged Maguire to stay. “Nobody is going to be happy with the situation. “He always gives 100% effort in training,” he said, “and that includes Maguire. “At the moment he’s competing with Varane, who has done a fantastic job,” he added, “I’d be happy if he could play when we need him, but that’s his decision.”
According to the media, Maguire is currently being linked with a move to Tottenham or West Ham. He’s also been linked with overseas clubs such as Juventus and Inter Milan (both in Italy). Whatever the case, it’s looking increasingly likely that Maguire will leave United.