Manchester United defender Harry Maguire should hand in a transfer request, claims Jamie O’Hara. The former Tottenham midfielder would like to see the England star join his old club before the end of the summer window.
Maguire was stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag last month. He fell out of favour early last season and is unlikely to win his place back at Old Trafford.
United are willing to sell the 30-year-old, who has two years remaining on his contract. However, they still want to recoup some of the £80m they spent on him four years ago.
West Ham had a bid of £20m turned down last week and are unlikely to return with an improved offer due to the player’s high wage demands. United are looking for a fee closer to £40m.
O’Hara says he would have handed a transfer request in by now if he was Maguire. The pundit is adamant the centre-back has no future at United.
He told Grosvenor Sport: “[Maguire] needs to leave Manchester United. I don’t know why he’s still there – I would have handed in a transfer request and left the football club.
“He’s not wanted there, he’s had the captaincy taken off him and he’s not respected as a player by anyone – it’s obvious. He needs to just get out and play football where he can actually enjoy himself and get his confidence back.
“He’s not a bad player, but I don’t think he has the respect he deserves at Manchester United, because he’s not good enough and because he’s not at that level. He should go somewhere where he’s going to be loved – because it isn’t Manchester United.”
Tottenham are in the market for central defenders this summer. Ange Postecoglou has not been able to get a deal over the line just yet but is reportedly close to signing Blackburn youngster Ashley Phillips.
Maguire would be a more experienced option than the 18-year-old and O’Hara would love to see him make the move to north London. He added: “I’d have him at Tottenham, I think he’d be decent for them! He’s better than Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez, let’s be real.
“He would fit a team who are still trying to be a better side, but still aren’t the level of Manchester United. Man United are the biggest club in the world, and you’ve got a player there who’s just not good enough. He just needs to go.”