The Premier League transfer window has now closed but there’s still time for clubs in the Middle East and Turkey to strike late deals
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Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has emerged as the subject of an epic transfer battle in Saudi Arabia, with giants Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr both expressing an interest in the England international.
Maguire joined the Red Devils from Leicester City six years ago in a deal worth £80m - a world record fee for a defender at the time. His performances since making that move have often divided opinion but it’s worth noting that the Sheffield-born defender has racked up 249 appearances for the Old Trafford club, scoring 16 times while also contributing eight assists. He was handed the captain’s arm band just six months after joining the club and held the position until 2023 when Erik ten Hag decided to swap the leadership position over to Bruno Fernandes.
Maguire, who has helped England reach a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and a European Championship final in 2021, has just one season remaining on his contract with United and it remains to be seen whether the club will offer him an extension beyond the summer of 2026. The former Leicester City ace has played three matches across all competitions this season. He appeared as a substitute in league games against Arsenal and Fulham, and played the full 90 minutes in a shock defeat to Grimsby Town in the League Cup - in a game which only was decided on penalties due to Maguire’s late headed equaliser.
What does the future hold for Harry Maguire?
According to Caught Offside, both Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli are weighing up 15 million euro offers for Harry Maguire, which equates to around £13m. That figure, while modest by Premier League standards, could be enough to persuade United to offload a player that’s amongst the highest earners, and one that’s struggled to produce in Ruben Amorim’s system.
Maguire hasn’t represented England yet in 2025 and currently faces an uphill battle to get back into the Three Lions setup despite his exceptional performances in past tournaments at international level. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who worked under Gareth Southgate, criticised United for failing to play to Maguire’s strengths at times and claimed for England that the Yorkshireman is a ‘proper leader’.
In an appearance on The Overlap earlier this week, the former Chelsea man said: “We missed Harry Maguire [at Euro 2024]. He’s a top lad, always positive, will always put himself forefront even when he makes mistakes. He’s there, he doesn’t hide has a voice everybody respects him.
“The thing at Man United is that we all know what what what Harry Maguire is. At Man United, if you’re going to play open, yeah, he’s going to get in trouble. But if you protect him at the right ways, he’s going to be a proper proper leader. He’s going to be there. And whatever you say, he’s done brilliant for England.”
The 3AM verdict: While it’s fair to say that Harry Maguire has never truly lived up to his hefty price tag at Old Trafford, it has to be said that there’s a lot of truth to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s comments that his weaknesses have been exposed due to the team’s playing style. However, Maguire remains one of the best remaining leaders in the club’s dressing room and a player that’s capable of helping the team climb the table. He’s an experienced head, one that knows the club well, and still has a habit of chipping in with important goals on occasion.
At this stage, Maguire should be kept by United, and it’s also worth noting that staying in Manchester is best for the player’s short-term future as it gives him a better chance of breaking back into the England setup ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Yves Bissouma could still leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer. Football Insider understands the Mali international is no longer a part of Thomas Frank’s plans and claims a sale is ‘expected’ soon amid reports of interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Bissouma joined the Lillywhites in a £35m transfer from Brighton in 2022 but struggled with injuries in his first campaign as the team finished in eighth position. He produced a much stronger second season when Ange Postecoglou first arrived and helped the club to finish fifth. Last term was Bissouma’s worst in a Spurs shirt as the club finished in 17th position but he did play the full 90 minutes in the team’s Europa League triumph over Manchester United as the club finally ended their 17-year-wait for silverware.
Bissouma is yet to make an appearance following Frank’s arrival, with the Dane explaining that he left the midfielder out of the club’s UEFA Super Cup final squad due to persistent lateness. The midfielder has not appeared in the matchday squad since that incident and also been left out entirely of the club’s Champions League squad.
The 3AM verdict: Tottenham are blessed with options in the middle of the park, including new-signing Joao Palhinha as well as other names such as Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur. All are younger and more likely to feature under Thomas Frank while they also have the added bonus of not having clashed with the new boss. The writing seems to be on the wall for Yves Bissouma after his Champions League omission, and a move to the Middle East or Turkish Super Liga could well prove to be the best solution for both parties at this stage.