JONNY EVANS is close to signing a one–year return to Manchester United that could see Harry Maguire dumped to FIFTH choice by Erik ten Hag.
And given that the Old Trafford manager now sees left-back Luke Shaw as an option at centre half things could get even more miserable for the beleaguered ex–captain.
The England central defender opted to stay and fight for his place rather than move to West Ham after a £30million bid for him was accepted.
His departure to join ex–Old Trafford boss David Moyes would have meant United taking a £50m hit on the player they signed in 2019 for £80M – a world record for a centre-half.
But the 30-year-old is understood to have made it clear he wouldn’t take a hit himself.
It is believed he is holding out for a £16m pay–off to go with his contract which has two more years to run with a further 12-month option.
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Yet he is danger of finding himself in limbo with Evans, 35, considering a return after signing a short contract over the summer.
He trained with his former club after being freed by Leicester City then signed on short-term for United’s pre–season games, featuring in games against Lyon in Edinburgh then Wrexham and Borussia Dortmund in America.
Boss Ten Hag is known to have been highly impressed and sees him not only as a first-team squad addition but also someone who can help mentor younger players.
The Dutchman is hopeful that Evans, currently a free agent again, will commit, saying : “We’ll see.
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“He is not under contract for this month but we are talking.”
Asked if he wanted him ten Hag replied: “That’s why we are talking!”
Ten Hag has already told Maguire that if he is not confident about breaking back into his team then he should leave.
Ahead of him already are the first-choice pair of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane plus Victor Lindelof.
Ten Hag continues to insist he is not pushing Maguire out – and declares that with a heavy workload coming up this season he can still play a part.
But that is likely to be a bit part, with the United manager saying of Maguire’s situation: “The process I don’t know only that Harry is a player for us.
“I am happy he is here, we need a good squad, we have four good centre-halves including Luke Shaw we have five.
“We need it because we are going to play 50-60 games this season, all the players are internationals so we have a very heavy load.
“ I am happy Harry Maguire is here – he is going to have to fight for his position.
“It is up to him. He knows what I expect from me.
“What I expect from a centre half he can do it, he has the abilities to do it so now he has to show it.
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“It is about character, to be convinced to play that role, he has all the abilities to do it.
Meanwhile Martinez, replaced by Lindelof in Monday’s 1-0 opening win over Wolves at half-time with a minor injury is expected to face Tottenham in Saturday’s tea–time clash.
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