Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag admits Harry Maguire can leave, David de Gea not guaranteed starting role next year

Erik ten Hag has suggested that Harry Maguire could choose to leave Manchester United, but believes David de Gea will stay despite not being guaranteed a starting role.

Maguire and De Gea have both come in for heavy criticism over the course of the season, which ultimately saw United finish in third place, behind Arsenal and league winners Manchester City, and certain of Champions League football next season.

In his first season in charge at United, Ten Hag has won the Carabao Cup, and his team play City in the FA Cup final.

Despite at least one trophy added to the collection and a top-three finish, United have performed erratically at times and Maguire and De Gea have been at fault on a number of occasions.

He said: “Yes, but he has high competition there with Raphaël Varane [at centre back], who’s fantastic.

“No one would be happy with this situation. He is not as well. He trains always on best levels, so with 100 per cent effort. So he handles that situation well and he’s in that manner and in his captaincy he’s important for the squad.

“Let’s say I’m happy he’s here and when we needed him he did his job. But it’s also a decision he has to make.”

Spanish goalkeeper De Gea is out of contract in the summer, and reports suggest that any new deal could see his rumoured £375,000-a-week wages roughly halved if he were to stay.

With De Gea less adept with the ball at his feet than other goalkeepers at top clubs, Ten Hag said he saw improvement but could not guarantee regular football for the 32-year-old.

“It’s not what I want, it’s more what top football demands nowadays,” Ten Hag added. “If you observe the biggest teams, you have to be capable of playing from the back, and use your ’keeper as a plus one in your back, otherwise it’s very simple for opponents to put you under pressure. He [De Gea] had to step up. In a number of games, he showed progression.

Yes, but I will not say he’ll always be my No 1 because in a club like Man United there must be competition in all positions.

“You can’t do it with 11 players. It is impossible. You need double positions.”