Harry Maguire has been having a wretched season with Manchester United but someone he’s still managed to make it to the England squad for the ongoing friendlies.
The defender has been an utter disaster as United have shipped in 40 goals in the Premier League alone and he’s been so poor that the club are reportedly thinking of selling him at the end of this season. His poor form has put his national selection in doubt as well but according to Gareth Southgate, a lack of backups has been the main reason why he’s still with the Three Lions squad.
“He’s got us to a World Cup semi-final and European Championship final. There’s no doubt that he’s more than capable of playing at the highest level,” he said, as quoted.
“He was very good for us in the autumn and the club are in a difficult moment – there could be any number of reasons for that.
Harry Maguire is one of five players that Ralf Rangnick would be prepared to let go this summer. [@fichajesnet] #mufc
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) March 22, 2022
“That doesn’t mean that players can be poor for a couple of years and find their way in. Sometimes it depends on the competition for positions.
“We’ve obviously left some forward players out who haven’t been in good form. But there’s direct replacements, experienced replacements for those players. So as I say, it is a complicated decision.”
Will Harry Maguire fall down the pecking order for England?
Harry Maguire is one of the main reasons why Manchester United have been performing so poorly and even Southgate has understood that his main defender is badly out of form.
He might have been selected for the national team but his manager did not hand him a start for the Switzerland game though. He remained an unused sub on Saturday but since these are friendly matches, Maguire should be in line to start against Ivory Coast.
A couple of friendly matches will surely not determine his future so if he wishes to hold onto his England spot then he will have to shine with Manchester United. If he can up his game in the next few months and help his side secure a Champions League spot then he will have a great chance at holding onto his England place for the upcoming World Cup.
Chelsea bought Christensen, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Rudiger, Reece James and Azpilicueta for £39m.
Man United bought Harry Maguire for £80m. pic.twitter.com/R60JoYjz0u
— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) March 24, 2022
Who can replace Harry Maguire in the England side?
Currently, there are tons of options who have the capability to replace Harry Maguire and Saturday’s game was proof of that.
Southgate used Marc Guehi, Coady and Ben White in a three-man central defence against Switzerland and all these players have been brilliant for their respective sides in the league. They might not be an immediate option for replacing the United flop but if they can keep improving at the same pace then Maguire has a lot to worry about.
Harry Maguire needs to be stopped. pic.twitter.com/pNN019s178
— Felix (@CFCFeIix) March 22, 2022
Ben White and Gabriel have been a big reason for Arsenal’s revival this season and if they can make it into the top-four then Ben White will have a great opportunity at replacing Harry Maguire in the England first XI.
John Stones and Ben White will make a great pair in central defence and if it’s a 3-5-2 formation then someone like Guehi or Kyle Walker can also come in.
Conor Coady and Tyrone Mings are also good-enough backups but we don’t think either of them has what it takes to replace someone like Harry Maguire, especially at the World Cup stage.
