Harry Maguire has been limited to just seven starts in all competitions as Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane continue to crystallize their formidable partnership at the heart of United’s defense this season.
With Erik ten Hag rotating his squad following the World Cup and in the midst of a frantic fixture schedule, the England international has crept back into the starting XI to captain United of late in the recent 3-0 wins over Bournemouth and Charlton.
This said, it appears Maguire is still firmly down the pecking order, with left-back Luke Shaw clearly the preference at centre-half in wins against Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Everton.
Martinez and Varane are also most unlikely to have their partnership discontinued by gaffer Ten Hag in the derby against Manchester City on Saturday, Ferdinand believes the former Leicester City star will be quietly on the search for a new club immediately.
He told iNews: “If I came back from a tournament and done well, hit a bit of form and confidence again, come back to my club where I’m captain, and the manager has said to me ‘Patrice Evra is playing centre-half – our only other first-choice center-half isn’t fit but now we’re playing Patrice there,’ and I’m sitting here fit, I’d have to be asking questions and saying ‘this ain’t happening, you obviously don’t fancy me, I need to look for a new club, thank you.’”
“That isn’t me saying Harry is this or that. That’s just looking at the situation cold and saying that’s the way it has to play out.
“If Harry Maguire and his agent aren’t looking for a new club I’d be absolutely gobsmacked. I don’t see Harry Maguire at this stage of his career saying ‘I’m happy to be a squad player.’”
“I can’t see Harry Maguire who starts for England and is Man United captain saying he’s happy to be sitting on the bench. I wouldn’t be able to understand that.”
As for Maguire, the defender has stoically vowed to keep fighting for his place despite speculation being rife over his future.
“It felt good, I played last week as well against Bournemouth,’ Maguire told Sky Sports after United’s 3-0 win over Charlton.
“I was unfortunate in terms of when I come back from the World Cup, I had a bad illness, to be honest, and it knocked me back for one or two weeks. I feel good now.
“We have a lot of good centre halves at this club, there’s a lot of competition for places and I’ll keep fighting.”