Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag sends transfer message to Harry Maguire ahead of possible West Ham switch
Harry Maguire has been told by Erik ten Hag to leave Manchester United if he isn't confident he can win his place back in the team.
The Red Devils boss has stressed that the centre-back remains a part of his plans - despite West Ham having a £30million offer to sign him accepted.
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Ten Hag also stripped the 30-year-old as the club's captain in a sign that he wasn't in his long-term thinking.
Meanwhile it has been claimed that United are prepared to hand the England international a £6m pay-off to depart Old Trafford this summer.
But still, Ten Hag has insisted that he wants the ex-Leicester defender to fight for his place in the team.
However, if he lacks confidence in being able to start over Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, then he has to leave the Theatre of Dreams.
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The Dutchman commented on Maguire's future ahead of his side's Premier League opener away at Wolves on Monday night, live on talkSPORT.
Ten Hag said: "For Harry, that is just how I described it. He has to fight for his place.
"He has the ability to be a top-class centre-back and he is the best for England so why shouldn’t he be the best for us? But he has to prove it.
“When he is not confident enough to fight then he has to go.
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"Then he has to make a decision, but I’m happy with him.”
Ten Hag, who revealed last week that Maguire is in contention to feature against Wolves, also challenged those not in tonight's line-up to force their way back into selection.
He added: "We don’t have a squad with 11 players, and the last year proved definitely we need all the players.
“So that means you need some high-level players who are maybe not starting but that can change so there is an internal competition — everyone has to fight for his place.
“Every player, when they are good, will get their games but no one can play all the games and finally you find out what is the best team.
“In the squad now all the positions are double and every player has the perspective to fight for his place.
“It is up to the players if they have game time or less.”
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