Tottenham FC

Tottenham ‘accelerate’ defender bid with Postecoglou to ‘focus all his efforts’ on Man Utd player

Harry Maguire points instructions to his team-mates during a friendly match.

Tottenham are ready to ‘accelerate’ their efforts to sign Man Utd defender Harry Maguire this summer, according to reports.

Erik ten Hag made the decision last week to strip Maguire of the captaincy and award it to Bruno Fernandes ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

It comes after the England international dropped down the pecking order at Man Utd last term with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez emerging as Ten Hag’s preferred pairing at centre-back.

The writing seemed to be on the wall last campaign for Maguire with left-back Luke Shaw starting ahead of him at times with the former Sheffield United centre-back now expected to consider his options.

Maguire will need to get playing regular football as soon as possible if he wants to keep his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of Euro 2024.

And now Spanish publication Fichajes insist that Tottenham are about to ‘accelerate’ their attempts to sign Maguire this summer with ‘his days numbered at Manchester United’.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is at the start of ‘a new sports project’ in north London but he currently wants to ‘focus all his efforts on Maguire’.

Tottenham have emerged as a ‘possible destination’ for the England international with Postecoglou attracted to the Man Utd defender’s ‘experience and leadership’.

Maguire’s team-mate at Old Trafford, Varane, was seemingly impressed by Ten Hag’s decision to make a brave decision to change the captaincy.

Varane told ESPN: “He wants a team with character and he’s the leader so he has to show it himself.

“He’s not scared to take these decisions and take that responsibility. That is what we expect from the manager. He did it so I think, with things like this, you show by example.

“He knows exactly what he wants. He’s shown that determination and from the first day we’ve known exactly what we’ve had to do and where he wants to go. It’s all clear for the players and for the team and we have a good connection with the manager.

Despire rumours that Ten Hag wants Maguire out of Man Utd, the Dutchman claimed earlier this week that the centre-back can still force his way back into his starting XI.

“Everyone can understand it is disappointing for a player, but it can actually work out well for the team and for Harry,” Ten Hag said.

The Man Utd boss continued: “He stays an important player. He can fight himself into the team. He has potential and it’s up to him to get his position.

“Now he can focus more on his role, but a centre-back has to communicate and organise. It’s a big area where you have to perform as a centre-half.”

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