Chelsea are reportedly considering a shock swoop for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire in the wake of Wesley Fofana’s serious knee injury.
The Blues have been dealt a big blow a month before the start of the 2023/24 season, with Wesley Fofana suffering a cruciate ligament injury. As a result, the French centre-back has undergone ACL surgery and is likely to miss the majority of the upcoming campaign. This has left Mauricio Pochettino in a spot of bother and, having already let Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta leave Stamford Bridge this summer, the west London club are now monitoring defensive options available in the ongoing transfer window.
According to 90min, Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire has emerged as a potential target for Chelsea.
Maguire, 30, was recently stripped of the captain’s armband by Man United boss Erik ten Hag. The England international, who joined the Red Devils from Leicester City for £85million in 2019, lost his first-team status under Ten Hag last term, making just eight league starts. The lack of game time, coupled with Ten Hag’s decision to relinquish the captain’s armband, has unsurprisingly cast doubts over his long-term future at Old Trafford.
The report adds Chelsea have made enquiries about Maguire’s situation at Man United, with their scouting department citing him as one of the best options available to attack on the transfer market.
Harry Maguire to Chelsea—Should the Blues make a move?
After being stripped of the captaincy duties at Man United due to his reduced status in the squad, Harry Maguire is now ready to sever ties with the club. He apparently knows his time at Old Trafford is over with Newcastle United, West Ham and Tottenham keen, while Chelsea are the latest entrant in the race for his signature.
Chelsea, undergoing a rebuild under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, are looking to bolster their defensive options for the new season. They have seen Koulibaly and Azpilicueta depart the club this summer, but following the setback of Fofana’s long-term injury, Pochettino is tempted to make a move for Maguire.
Maguire, who still has two years remaining on his contract at United, knows he needs to move away from Old Trafford in order to get regular game time. The 30-year-old played only 16 times in the Premier League last season, and that is clearly not enough for a player who is the leading central defender in the England squad.
Despite him falling down the pecking order at United, Maguire has been constantly selected by England manager Gareth Southgate and his performances for the national team are proof that he is still a quality centre-back and in the right system, he will deliver consistent performances on a more regular basis. Certainly, Chelsea could benefit from the England international’s ball-playing, experience and leadership skills, whilst replacing the injured Fofana in the squad.
What Maguire needs is someone who would trust his capabilities and help him regain confidence, and an impressive-man manager in Pochettino would back himself in doing that. At 30, the ex-Leicester City man still has a few years left at the highest level and, with him raring to prove a point elsewhere, Maguire could make an instant impact at Stamford Bridge and win over the fans.