Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has sent a brutal warning to former club captain Harry Maguire, who is heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford.
The England international lost his starting spot in United's strongest XI after Ten Hag took charge last season, before going on to lose the captain's armband last month.
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West Ham United are trying to sign Maguire, with Hammers coach David Moyes confirming on the weekend that they have sent an offer to the Red Devils for the defender.
It remains to be seen if Maguire will accept a move to the London Stadium, but if he decides to stay at the Theatre of Dreams instead, Ten Hag has warned that he needs to be playing at a top level if he wants to feature regularly for the side again.
"He has the ability to be a top-class centre-back," the Dutchman said ahead of the Red Devils' 2023/24 Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night, per the Daily Mail.
"He is the best for England so why shouldn't he be the best for us?
"But he has to prove it. When he is not confident enough to fight then he has to go, then he has to make a decision.
"But I'm happy with him."
United have signed only three players so far in this window – Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund – but after selling midfielder Fred to Fenerbahce on the weekend, the Dutch tactician is hoping to improve his squad further before the transfer deadline on 1 September.
"I will always want more! But I think every manager you could ask would also want more," Ten Hag added.
"But it is about the mentality; in top football we are talking about the demand, the absolute maximum. Because we demand that from our players and, in their defence, they expect it from us.
"We are looking for the perfect situation but you never get the perfect situation. Then you have to come into your place and work for that, maybe with not the perfect situation but the perfect results."
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