Paul Parker believes Harry Maguire’s time at Manchester United must come to an end this summer, also urging his old side to offload Mason Mount while they still can.
Maguire has been a rock at the back since returning from injury at the start of the year, playing a central role in the club’s return to form under Michael Carrick.
The England international has started every game since the interim boss took the reins in January but with just three months left on his contract at Old Trafford, his future is uncertain.
Talks have taken place to extend his stay but with Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro waiting in the wings, United may choose to look to the future.
With injuries resurfacing, Lisandro Martinez’s future has also come into doubt with Matthijs de Ligt another who has struggled this season, not playing since the end of November due to a persistent back problem.
United have big decisions to make at the back this summer with former right-back Parker believing Martinez could still have the chance to prove he can be a long-term option.
And while Maguire has proven his critics wrong over the years, he suggests it would be ‘foolhardy’ for United to let sentiment cloud their judgement when it comes to planning for the future.
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‘I just think at the end of it all, he’s done his time, he’s been through a lot of managers. I think it’d be foolhardy to keep him on,’ Parker told Metro via Live casinos in Ireland.
‘You’ve got two centre-halves. You’ve already got Yoro and Heaven, you’ve got de Ligt, you’ve got Martinez.
‘Keeping Maguire is like stopping two young players maturing. That’s what you’re going to go and do.
‘And as well, this rubbish they say, “oh it’s good to have him around”, he’s seen off too many managers. Now he’s played under Carrick, there’s a good chance there’s another manager coming in. I just think at the end of it, you can’t let sentiment get in the way of progression of a team.’
On Martinez, Parker added: ‘United need to invest in a centre back. But if he was to get back and get a few games in before the end of the season and then get a decent pre-season behind him, there’s a very good chance that you’re going to get someone who’s going to want to play.’
Mount meanwhile has managed just one minute of playing time under Carrick – late on against City back in January.
The former Chelsea star has been plagued by injury since his move from Stamford Bridge in 2023, scoring just seven goals in almost three seasons in Manchester. He has made 66 appearances in that time with only 29 of those in the starting XI.
Even when fit, Parker questions where the 27-year-old features in the current set-up and believes United should take any offer they can get this summer.
‘If you’re going to look at a starting XI for Manchester United, would they pick him to start next season? The answer would be no,’ Parker said.
‘I don’t think people know where you would pick him to play. He’s not someone you start out wide. He’d be someone you start through the middle, and the middle is the main bit of it, the spine of the team.
‘I look at it and if someone comes in and offers you money, you’ve got to take it.
‘He hasn’t played a lot of football and then he’s gone missing again. He’s finished games, he’s come off as a sub and you can’t see anything, the reasons why it works, if anything tactical has come off.’
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