21 August 2023 , 23:00
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Rio Ferdinand believes that Jonny Evans would be above Harry Maguire in the pecking order at Manchester United if he signs a contract with the club.
Evans, 35, has been training at Carrington since leaving Leicester in June and was handed a short-term contract with the Red Devils to feature in pre-season. The centre-back played for the Red Devils during their tour in the United States and even started the 3-1 defeat against Wrexham.
Erik ten Hag has suggested that Evans could remain and sign a new deal at United. Speaking following the Red Devils' 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday, he said: "In this moment, he is not [under contract] but we are talking. We will see. We are in talks and when we have news we will bring it."
And if Evans does put pen to paper on a contract with United, Ferdinand admitted that will move Maguire down to fifth-choice. Maguire would also be behind Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, while Luke Shaw was also used ahead of the England international at times last season.
Speaking about Maguire on the latest episode of his Vibe with FIVE YouTube show, Ferdinand said: "If Jonny Evans signs he [Maguire] is behind Jonny Evans I reckon."
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Asked about why he praises Maguire despite thinking Evans would be above him, Ferdinand added: "You might get something different [out of him] when the transfer window closes, I think you'd get a different response then, but he can’t afford that to happen.
"If you're the buying club, and the manager you’re trying to buy off goes, 'I just need him out of here asap, if we don’t sell him we can't go and buy target one and two over there' then the buying club go, 'Well now we know they’re desperate to sell, let's low-ball them, if he’s worth £30m we’ll offer £15m and they have to take it surely'."
Harry Maguire could leave Manchester United this summer (Getty Images)Maguire had been heavily linked with a £30m move to West Ham this summer, before the Hammers decided to pull the plug on a transfer. Ten Hag is happy that Maguire is still at the Red Devils but could also leave before the end of the transfer window.
When asked about that, Ten Hag said: "That process, that's what I don't know. I am happy Harry is here. We need a good squad. we have four good centre halves - five including Luke Shaw - and we need it because we are going to play 50-60 games this season.
"All the players are internationals, so we have a very heavy load to cover so I am happy Harry is here. He has to fight for his position - as everyone in the squad has to - because we have constructed a squad with two [players] for every position and we need it.
"It's up to him. He knows what I expect from him. I've been here now for a year and you know what I expect from a centre half. And he can do it."