PATRICE EVRA admitted time may be up for Harry Maguire at Manchester United.
The £85million defender has endured a tough time at Old Trafford, struggling to live up to his world-record transfer fee.
Despite being club captain, he was dropped for Monday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool.
SunSport revealed Erik ten Hag has told Maguire he is no longer first choice therefore plunging the armband into doubt.
And with Chelsea sniffing around a potential transfer in their desperate pursuit for a centre-back, former Red Devils star Evra reckons his old side should cash in.
He said: “I can say people are too harsh on Harry Maguire, but he is paying the price for his transfer fee.
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“From that day, I said he is going to have the most difficult season for United because people only looked at the price.
“If we bought him for £5m, people would say he’s an amazing centre-back.
“We all have bad games but now we’ve got to a point where even if he has a good game people are not happy.
“So there’s a negativity around him.”
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Uncertainty also circles around the futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luke Shaw with a week left in the summer transfer window.
And Evra believes it could be best to sell both now.
He told Betfair: “The Cristiano Ronaldo saga is another issue. Is he staying? Is he leaving?
“He’s still here, the transfer window isn’t closed but I think, personally knowing Cristiano, if he doesn’t play he would like to leave.
“I think this would be the best for him and for United.
“We’ve been playing Luke Shaw for so many years and I’m really careful when I talk about left-backs because I’ve been in this position and it’s not an easy position.
“Luke Shaw has been here for so many years and he hasn’t matched the standard set by Denis Irwin or myself, and I think left-back is a really crucial position for United.
“Maybe it’s time for those players [Maguire, Ronaldo and Shaw] to go.”
‘WHAT A PLAYER’
However, Evra was far more positive about the shock £70m signing of Casemiro from Real Madrid.
The Brazilian will inject some much-needed trophy-winning experience into a team that has not lifted any silverware since 2017.
Evra said: “I’m confident, we’re talking about a five-times Champions League winner.
“Don’t expect too much all of a sudden, he needs to adapt to his new players.
“But I’ve seen him many times and what a player. That’s the kind of midfielder we need.
“When we play Scott McTominay and Fred, even if they have a great game, after three games they lose that consistency and Casemiro will bring that to United.
“I don’t see why he won’t perform well for Manchester United.
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“People blame players at the club, but they don’t have anybody to look at, apart from Cristiano Ronaldo. The experience is really important.
“When you have a player and they win so many trophies, young players look up to them, they see the way they train, the way they eat and their lifestyle. Casemiro’s experience will be a massive help.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
