Manchester United may find it even more challenging to offload Harry Maguire after the defender was handed a pay rise.
The centre-half, Harry Maguire, along with the rest of the squad, saw his earnings go up after the club returned to the Champions League following their third place finish. Maguire rarely featured in the Premier League, despite being captain, after being usurped by summer signing Lisandro Martinez.
Maguire was largely a squad player with his minutes coming in the cup competitions. It has cast serious doubt over his future with his role likely to stay the same next term. Erik ten Hag is looking to raise funds for summer arrivals and selling the former Leicester man is a major possibility.
However his pay rise means getting the £80m defender off their books could be incredibly challenging. Not only would they have to potentially replace him but Maguire himself may knock back a move if it meant significantly cutting his earnings.
The 30-year-old wants to remain a regular with England ahead of next summer’s Euros which will also play a factor in his decision as he sits behind Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof in the pecking order whilst left-back Luke Shaw has also been used ahead of him.
It was previously speculated that United would hand Maguire a massive pay out if he did leave the club this summer. They were prepared to pay him £10m to get him off their books, but their summer budget could now play a factor in that decision.
Ten Hag has allowed several defenders to leave the club – Phil Jones among them whilst others are up for sale. It could leave United’s backline lacking depth but the Dutchman is already working with a limited budget and would rather not spend it on a new centre-half, especially when he has a first-choice pairing.
Mason Mount completed his move to Old Trafford on Wednesday, joining in a £60m deal. That is half of Ten Hag’s summer budget gone despite him also targeting a new No 1 as well as a prolific striker. Extra funds will have to be raised by player sales with several names in jeopardy.
Fred has been in and out of the first-team and has been heavily linked with a move to Fulham. His midfield colleague Scott McTominay could also be moved on for a notable fee. Young forward Anthony Elanga is also on the market as Ten Hag looks to bolster his summer transfer kitty.