Manchester United should offload Harry Maguire and pursue an obstacle-laden deal for Matthijs de Ligt, says Louis Saha.
Since his blockbuster £80million move from Leicester in 2019, Maguire hasn't hit the heights he promised for United. Injuries and poor form have since seen him fall out of favour at Old Trafford.
Maguire was intent on staying and fighting his place under Erik ten Hag last summer when a £30m move to West Ham neared completion, and with his contract expiring next year, his time at United could come to an end soon.
Saha believes that when Maguire is given a new lease, De Ligt should be the target. However, a deal for the Dutchman is in doubt after Bayern Munich halted their attempts to sign a replacement.
"Fresh start will be the best for Harry Maguire," Saha told csdb.gg. "With Maguire, we know his situation, and it hasn’t been easy. Sometimes, a fresh start is what players need. It could be the best for everybody in this situation."
West Ham could return for Maguire, but have already brought in Max Kilman this window, while OGC Nice's £34m-man Jean-Clair Todibo is also tipped to arrive. A deal seems unlikely, and Maguire could be forced to run down his current deal and depart next summer for free.
"De Ligt can play that [Maguire's] role," Saha added. "He is a confident player and a leader in his own right. But he has struggled to maintain his form for the years since leaving Ajax.
"Having said that, I think the Premier League is a good fit for him and it will provide him that extra motivation to get back to his very best. There is also the surprise element of having him come from abroad so strikers might not know how to play against him."
However, multiple hurdles now stand in the way of a potential United coup for De Ligt. Bayern do not have a replacement for the Dutchman after pulling out of a deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah.
Bayern are demanding £42m for De Ligt and would have put some of these funds towards German international Tah. However, with Xabi Alonso's defender not convincing the club's hierarchy, Vincent Kompany may have little choice but to keep De Ligt.
The Dutchman is also being investigated 'on suspicion of a hit-and-run' near Bayern's training ground. BILD claims the 24-year-old collided with a parked car where a witness recognised the him, and contacted police.
The German outlet also claims that De Ligt's car was towed and impounded after he allegedly 'simply drove away'. If he is found guilty, a fine or prison sentence could await the Netherlands international.