Manchester United are facing a £40m loss on Harry Maguire if they sell him this summer, as looking increasingly likely, claims the Daily Mail. Maguire is out of favour at Old Trafford and though he was in Erik Ten Hag’s team to beat Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday, it was only his fifth league start of the season.

On a more positive note for the 29-year-old, he made just just fifth Premier League start of 2022-23 at the weekend, helping United keep a clean sheet during a 2-0 triumph at Leeds United.

Nevertheless, it was perceived that his selection was to help Ten Hag manage the game time of other players ahead of an intense run of fixtures and high-profile games.

Furthermore, Ten Hag has often left Maguire out of the first XI in the Premier League, despite the centre-back’s status as club captain.

Although Maguire enjoyed a strong World Cup with England, that has had little impact on his head coach, who has preferred Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.

With Martinez suspended for Thursday’s Europa League play-off against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Maguire will be hoping for another opportunity as Ten Hag juggles his squad through a busy schedule of fixtures.

The Dutchman admitted that his selection against Leeds was ‘part rotation part tactics’ as he rested Varane and Martinez on the bench, and played Shaw alongside Maguire in the middle with Tyrell Malacia at left back. That allowed Malacia to tuck in and offer an extra man in midfield when needed.

The United manager’s decision to use Luke Shaw as a centre-back this season – as he did at Elland Road – has further limited the first-team opportunities for Maguire who also faces competition from Victor Lindelof.

The fact that Ten Hag kept Maguire as captain when he took over in the summer has only exacerbated an awkward situation which needs resolving.

Maguire was against asked about his lack of playing time after the 2-0 win over Leeds and admitted that it has been disappointing.

‘It’s not about me, it’s about the club being successful and I want to be a part of it,’ he said.

‘I’m the captain and I put the team miles before myself. Whether I’m playing or not, I want the team to do well.

‘I’m still getting my minutes. Everyone wants to start games, and it’s disappointing when you don’t. You have four international centre-backs at this club and there will always be two who are unhappy. I just have to be ready for when the chance comes.’

The Yorkshireman’s £180,000-a-week contract runs until 2025, but it has become abundantly clear that Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are Erik ten Hag’s first-choice pairing.

United will be open to offers but fear they may have to accept half of the £80million it cost to sign Maguire from Leicester in the summer of 2019, which is still the world-record for a defender.

That is simply not enough for a senior international who turns 30 in less than three weeks’ time, and there is a growing acceptance on both sides that Maguire will have to move at the end of the season.

Maguire is one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet and still has all the qualities that persuaded United to outbid Manchester City for him three-and-a-half years ago.

The problem for him is that Ten Hag wants more mobile, progressive centre-backs and prefers them to play on the side of defence that favours their stronger foot.

Having established himself on the left since joining United, it appears as though Maguire now has to battle Varane and Lindelof for a slot on the right.