FILE PHOTO: Jul 30, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Manchester United defender Harry Maguire (5) moves the ball during the first half against Borussia Dortmund at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
(Reuters) - Harry Maguire should leave Manchester United if he is not confident enough to fight for his place, manager Erik ten Hag said, amid reports that the defender is on the verge of completing a transfer to West Ham United.
Ten Hag stripped Maguire of the captaincy last month after the 30-year-old made only eight Premier League starts last season, with Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof preferred in central defence.
British media reported that West Ham had agreed a deal worth 30 million pounds ($38.01 million) for Maguire, who became the world's most expensive defender when United signed him from Leicester City for 80 million pounds in 2019.
"He has to fight for his place and he has the abilities to be a top-class centre back," Ten Hag told reporters. "He is the best for England and I assume he will be best for us, but he has to prove it.
"When he is not confident enough to go in and fight, then he has to go. He has to make a decision. But I am happy with him ... You need high-level players who are maybe not starting, but that can change."
United host Wolverhampton Wanderers in their Premier League opener later on Monday.
($1 = 0.7893 pounds)
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad; Editing by Peter Rutherfordpeter.rutherford@thomsonreuters.com; +822 6936 1482)
