Erik ten Hag is intent on selling Manchester United captain Harry Maguire and allowing Fred to leave at the end of his contract in the summer.
Maguire was dropped from the United starting XI following their disastrous season opening defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
The 29-year-old has started just one league game since then with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane the manager’s firm first-choice pairing at the back.
Varane’s recent injury has seen Maguire come back into the team but his long-term future at Old Trafford appears bleak with The Guardian reporting he is not part of ten Hag’s plans.
The report claims that while the United boss admirers Maguire’s professionalism, he views his ‘sluggish pace’ as a problem and is keen t bring in another option at the back to complete with Martinez and Varane.
Maguire was signed for £80million from Leicester City in 2019 and was made club captain within six months of his arrival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure.
The defender signed a six-year deal that has an option to extend to 2026. United would be expected to make a sizeable loss if they can move him on at the end of the season.
Fred meanwhile is another who does not feature in ten Hag’s long-term plans.
The Brazil international has entered the final 12 months of his deal at Old Trafford while there is the option to extend that by a further year, the club are not expected to activate it.
Like Maguire, ten Hag has been impressed with Fred’s work ethic but is keen to continue overhauling his midfield following the summer signing of Casemiro who is already a key figure in the middle of the park.
Fred has been at the club since 2018, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for a £52m fee.
Ten Hag brought Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Antony and Casemiro to the club in his first summer in charge.
The manager is also eager to bring in a new long-term option up front with Napoli star Victor Osimhen thought to be among the strikers under consideration.
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