Man United boss Erik ten Hag puts the gauntlet on Harry Maguire, warning him to ‘PROVE’ he can still be a ‘top class central defender’ – or leave!

Erik ten Hag has called up Harry Maguire to show he can perform at the top level or leave Manchester United.

It comes as Mails Sport understands that the club have agreed a £30 million deal to sell the England defender to West Ham, with Maguire accepting a £70,000 pay cut if he leaves Old Trafford.

With the 30-year-old in contention to play in the Red Devils’ season opener against Wolves, he has yet to decide whether to move to the East London team.

Maguire has dropped down the pecking order in Ten Hag’s starting eleven, with Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof favored over him.

The United boss took the captain’s armband from Maguire earlier this summer, but suggested there is still a position for him at Man United, provided he can ‘prove’ he can still perform at the highest level.

The Dutch manager said Maguire has “the ability to be a top class centre-back” and also said he was “happy with him”.

Still, he added that if Maguire cannot fight for his position in the team, he should leave the club

“He has the ability to become a top center central defender,” Ten Hag said at a press conference.

“He’s the best for England, so why shouldn’t he be the best for us?

But he has to prove it. If he doesn’t have enough confidence to fight, then he has to go, then he has to make a decision. But I’m happy with him.’

The centre-back, who made a world record £80 million transfer to Man United for a defender in 2019, is under contract with the club until 2025 and could choose to stay and complete the rest of his deal.

Last season, the defender played just 16 Premier League games for the club, of which only eight started.

It’s a stark contrast to his 2021/22 season, which saw Maguire appear in 30 Premier League games, starting in 28 of those.

While it remains uncertain whether Maguire will choose to leave Old Trafford, Ten Hag could offer Jonny Evans a short-term contract, while the club has also been linked with several other players.

It comes as the club turned down a bid for Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard on Sunday, with United also losing out to Fred, who will leave the club in a £13 million move to Fenerbache.

It comes as Maguire (left-centre) has yet to decide whether to stay at Man United after the club accepted a £30 million bid for him from the London club.

The Red Devils have also brought in a number of new talents, including Andre Onana, Mason Mount and new striker Rasmus Hojlund.

And Ten Hag claimed he was happy with their affairs so far, but did see some of the large sums of money being paid for players during the transfer window, with Chelsea agreeing to a £115 million fee for Moises Caicedo.

“A year ago we did a benchmark and there were only five players above £60 million,” said the Dutch manager.

‘Now you see everywhere that many clubs invest high fees in their selection. The competition is very tough in the Premier League, but we are happy with the squad we have built.”