Manchester United are reportedly ready to demand as much as £50m to part ways with club captain Harry Maguire this summer.
After struggling in the Red Devils' opening defeats to Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2022-23 Premier League season, Maguire quickly lost his place in the starting lineup.
New signing Lisandro Martinez quickly found his feet alongside Raphael Varane in the backline, and the pair formed Erik ten Hag's first-choice defensive partnership when fully fit.
Martinez and Varane's injuries towards the back end of the season would seemingly open the door for Maguire to stake his claim for a regular starting role, but Luke Shaw would often be utilised as a makeshift centre-half alongside Victor Lindelof.
With England boss Gareth Southgate warning Maguire that his Euro 2024 spot could come under threat if his playing situation does not improve, a move away from Old Trafford this summer has been expected to come to fruition.
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However, with the 30-year-old still under contract at Old Trafford for another two years, the Manchester Evening News claims that the Red Devils have slapped a £50m price tag on the defender.
It is impossible for Man United to recoup the full £80m they paid for the England international in 2019, but the 20-time English champions are supposedly hoping to make back over half of that world-record fee.
The report adds that finding a buyer willing to pay £50m is "highly unlikely", and Maguire could therefore stay at Old Trafford for the 2023-24 season unless the Red Devils lower their demands.
Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and West Ham United have all been linked with a swoop for the former Hull City and Leicester City man, but the trio of clubs are expected to baulk at Man United's valuation.
On a personal level, Maguire supposedly wants to stay and fight for his spot under Ten Hag, even though he is expected to be stripped of the captaincy ahead of the new season.
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The Red Devils have already lost Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe this summer, and there would be concerns about their ability to fund a move for a replacement if Maguire departed.
Napoli's Kim Min-jae was understood to have been identified as a possible successor, but the South Korea international is now expected to join Bayern Munich, and Man United are now prioritising their efforts to sign a new goalkeeper and striker after the capture of Mason Mount for an initial £55m.
Maguire has come up with seven goals and five assists in 175 games for Man United since becoming the world's most expensive defender in 2019, and he was named captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer less than a year into his stay following the exit of Ashley Young.
The 30-year-old played 31 times for Ten Hag's side last term - scoring once - but he started just eight Premier League matches and a further three games in the Europa League.
In addition, Maguire was given just two minutes off the bench in the Red Devils' EFL Cup final win over Newcastle United, and he was an unused substitute against Manchester City in the FA Cup final last month.
Ben Knapton
