Jonny Evans return 'could lead to Harry Maguire leaving Manchester United'

Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag said last week that the club were in discussions with the Northern Ireland international over a deal, having been impressed with him during pre-season.

The 35-year-old featured on four occasions for Man United in friendlies over the summer, and according to The Telegraph, the two parties are close to reaching an agreement over a deal until June 2024.

Evans is available on a free transfer this summer following his release from Leicester City at the end of June, and he is seemingly set to return to the club that he previously represented between 2006 and 2015.

The experienced defender made 198 appearances during his time at Old Trafford before leaving for West Bromwich Albion.

The report claims that Evans's arrival could lead to Maguire leaving before the end of the transfer window.

Ten Hag continues to insist that Maguire is a valued squad member at Old Trafford, but the club recently accepted a £30m offer from West Ham United for the England international before a move broke down.

Former Man United captain Rio Ferdinand has said that Evans would move above Maguire in the pecking order if he arrived, and the ex-defender has claimed that a summer exit for the latter is still a big possibility.

"If Jonny Evans signs he [Maguire] is behind Jonny Evans I reckon," Ferdinand said on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel.

"You might get something different [out of him] when the transfer window closes, I think you'd get a different response then, but he (Ten Hag) can't afford that to happen.

"If you're the buying club, and the manager you're trying to buy off goes, "I just need him out of here asap, if we don't sell him we can't go and buy target one and two over there" then the buying club go, "Well now we know they're desperate to sell, let's low-ball them, if he's worth £30m we'll offer £15m and they have to take it surely".'

Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are the two first-choice centre-backs at Man United, with Victor Lindelof the next in line for a start in that area of the field.

Luke Shaw was also used ahead of Maguire in the middle last season when both Martinez and Varane were on the sidelines through injury.

Maguire is yet to feature for Man United this season, as he was an unused substitute during the clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 14 before missing out against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend due to a minor injury.

A move to West Ham will now not occur, but Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in the former Sheffield United youngster, who needs regular action this term in order to keep hold of his starting role for England at next summer's European Championship.