Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire. (Reuters/Ed Sykes)
Manchester United have been ruthless in clearing out dead weight this summer.
Anthony was offloaded to Real Betis for a fraction of the £81 million United paid, following a miserable spell at Old Trafford. Misfiring striker Rasmus Højlund was loaned to Napoli with an obligation to buy tied to appearances, while Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelöf both moved to Aston Villa, the former on loan and the latter as a free agent.
Even more high-profile exits came with Alejandro Garnacho completing his dramatic fallout with Ruben Amorim by joining Chelsea, and Marcus Rashford heading to Barcelona on loan with an option to buy.
But the clearout might not be over yet. One more name could be on the move in the near future.
Saudi Clubs Enquire About Maguire
According to The Sun, Harry Maguire has attracted attention from two Saudi Arabian clubs, who have formally made enquiries about the 32-year-old defender.
Maguire, who is in the final year of his Manchester United contract, is reportedly open to a move — but only at the end of this season. While the Saudi transfer window closes on September 23, Maguire has informed both clubs that he intends to see out the remainder of his Old Trafford deal before considering a switch.
This comes after United rejected bids for Maguire from both Premier League and Italian clubs over the summer. The England international’s contract technically ended last season, but United exercised their option to extend it through 2026.
He is also free to negotiate overseas moves from January onwards, though he has indicated he could remain at Old Trafford beyond 2026 if the club wanted him to stay.
Whether Maguire is considered dead weight is now a matter of debate. A year ago, many would have answered yes. But the former England captain has enjoyed a marked improvement in form recently, earning praise from Bruno Fernandes, who described him as a “leader” and suggested United are fortunate to have him in the dressing room.
Still, at 32, the passing of the torch seems inevitable — even if the flame is only faintly glowing for now.
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