Ten Hag blocked Maguire’s January exit

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 2 Feb 2023 10:22 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag would reportedly not allow Harry Maguire to leave in January.

The club captain has been marginalised out of the starting XI but he was not allowed to make the move away mid-season, reports TeamTalk.

The England international, whose game-time at Old Trafford has been severely hampered by the partnership of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, was linked with a move to Inter Milan - but it never transpired.

READ MORE: How Man Utd will line up after the January transfer window

The same publication states that the Serie A giants made a loan approach for Maguire towards the end of the window but that Ten Hag would not sanction it.

It is also thought that West Ham also allegedly enquired about signing the 29-year-old centre-back.

And transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed that there was ‘no chance’ that Ten Hag would let him leave during January.

On Twitter, he wrote: “Despite links with Inter, Harry Maguire will not leave Manchester United. No chance, never been a concrete option in January. Maguire is staying at Manchester Utd at least until the end of the season.”

The former Leicester City star wishes to fight for his place with Man Utd, but it’s looking increasingly likely that won’t be the case and he will be sold in the summer window.

Maguire has made eight appearances for the Red Devils in the Premier League, mostly as a substitute, but he did feature for a full 90 minutes of Man Utd’s 3-1 victory over Reading in the FA Cup fourth round.

Maguire on his game-time

Maguire said to ITV after the game “I feel like I’ve looked after myself – I think it’s two-and-a-half weeks since my last start – so I’ve been working hard in training. The lads who’ve been playing have been doing well so when I get the opportunity I need to take it and make sure we win.”

“It was nice to be out there helping the lads and I’m ready when my chance comes. I’m working hard every day, I’m pushing, I’m training well, and when my chance comes I need to take it.

“We know at this club we need competition for places, we have some top centre-backs at this club so I think we’re all good from now until the end of the season.”

Man Utd beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the second-leg of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, with a 5-0 victory on aggregate, meaning they have booked themselves into the final against Newcastle at Wembley on February 26.