Italian Giants Express Loan Interest as Harry Maguire Considers Serie A Move

Reports from 90min suggest that Harry Maguire, the captain of Manchester United, is being targetted by top Italian clubs amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford. Maguire's mistake in United's heavy 3-0 defeat to Sevilla on Thursday led to his side's elimination from the Europa League at the quarter-final stage. Though the England international has recently been in the starting team due to injuries sustained by first-choice centre-backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, United are reportedly prepared to offload him at the end of the season as part of Erik ten Hag's rebuilding project. High-profile player departures are necessary for the Old Trafford club to create room on the wage bill and allow budget flexibility, and Maguire is one of several first-team players who could depart before the new season in the right circumstances.

However, United would prefer a permanent transfer and recouping a fee for Maguire, aged 30, but this may prove problematic as his £190,000-a-week salary would need to be removed from the books. Although there has been Premier League interest, Juventus, Milan and Inter are all interested in potential loan deals with options to buy. Such a deal might not be perfect for United, but they may need to be flexible in order to create room to manoeuvre around FFP limitations, and to ensure they secure deals for players of sufficient quality in key positions such as centre forward and central midfield.

Maguire's future is uncertain, and his camp reportedly believe Serie A could be an ideal landing spot for the player if he is to leave Old Trafford. Although United are willing to part ways with their captain, it's by no means a guarantee at this stage. Even if Maguire remains with United, he risks losing the club captaincy due to his reduced status.

United are also looking to acquire a new centre-half to support Varane and Martinez moving forward, with Jurrien Timber of Ajax, Goncalo Inacio of Sporting CP, and Antonio Silva of Benfica among scouts' favourites. Though Benfica's surprising academy breakout star, Silva, is popular among scouts, the club would demand a large fee. They would also look to sell other players first, such as striker Goncalo Ramos, who has himself been linked to United.

United also require a right-back, with doubts remaining over Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka's futures, while David de Gea is likely to extend his contract on reduced terms. In the meantime, United fans are looking forward to the FA Cup semi-finals against Brighton, even though the absence of three key players, including Maguire, has cast a pall over the proceedings.

On a recent edition of The Promised Land, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders and Rob Blanchette discuss Man Utd's loss to Sevilla and speculate on the futures of Harry Maguire and David de Gea. Meanwhile, Pope Francis has been presented with a Manchester United shirt signed by the injured Lisandro Martinez.