Man Utd ready to accept considerable loss as Harry Maguire exit option emerges

West Ham are considering a move to sign Harry Maguire on loan from Manchester United.

Last season's Europa League semi-finalists are weighing up their options in central defence with Wolves targeting one of their existing centre-backs, Craig Dawson. Maguire, 29, has lost his place in the United starting line-up since Erik Ten Hag took charge last summer and is effectively fourth choice centre-back.

Dawson, 32, is rated at around £7million. He remains keen on a return from east London to the Midlands having played before at West Brom. Wolves have already had a bid turned down but are expected to return for talks.

West Ham are considering a number of options for Dawson's replacement, from the experience of Maguire to the potential of 22-year-old Senegal international Formose Mendy. The 6'3" centre-half was part of the Senegal squad for the World Cup in Qatar and is highly rated by his club, Amiens. He is under contract until 2025 and French club Lens have had an offer of £7million rejected.

Maguire arrived at Old Trafford for £80million from Leicester in 2019, a move that made him the world's most expensive defender at the time. But he started just one of United's four Premier League wins since the World Cup, where he was a first-choice starter for England under Gareth Southgate.

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Ten Hag's preferred starting duo is Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez. Luke Shaw played alongside Varane instead of Maguire in last Saturday's impressive, come-from-behind win over City in the Manchester derby.

It consolidated United's position in the Champions League places, with the top four now five points clear of fifth-placed Spurs, who have played a game more. Victory for United at Arsenal on Sunday will reduce the gap between the Red Devils and the league-leaders to just six points.

Maguire did start last week's Carabao Cup semi-final win over Charlton but was part of a second string line-up. United are understood to be ready to sell Maguire in the summer, despite the fact that they will have to accept a considerable loss on him.