Ralf Rangnick has been told to consider selling Manchester United captain Harry Maguire as the Red Devils reportedly line up another defensive option.
Maguire, 28, has been the subject of intense scrutiny this season and that appears to have prompted United into the transfer market.
According to SportBild, via Sport Witness, the Red Devils have already tabled a bid for Borussia Dortmund centre-back Manuel Akanji, who has previously expressed his desire for a dream move to Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old is highly rated at the Bundesliga club, who are claimed to be eyeing Freiburg sensational Nico Schlotterbeck as a potential replacement.
Switzerland international Akanji - valued at around £26million - has a contract with Dortmund until 2023 like Maguire at United, who ex-defender Paul Parker reckons his old club should listen to offers for.
Join the debate! Should Man Utd sell Maguire? Comment your verdict below.
"If United, in my opinion, were to get somewhere near to their money back on Harry Maguire, I think they'll have to think about it," Parker told The Express.
"I think [Victor] Lindelof and [Raphael] Varane, you know, they could build something on there maybe, in a mode of what they're looking for and where the club wants to be.
"You're talking about players who are definitely more agile, a little bit quicker, better defenders in one against one situations and I think you have to look at it that way.
"I don't know if it's going to happen. Me, personally, for United to go forward, that's the starting area.
"But again the same old scenario - you don't want the manager coming in and all of a sudden, he comes in, he wants to do stuff and then he stops, the people above stop him from doing what he wants to do and then United go through the same stories."
Parker's comments follow similar questions from Rio Ferdinand, who has doubted the England stalwart's long-term suitably under a manager who shares interim manager Rangnick's principles.
Ferdinand believes that Maguire, who is often criticised as a result of his lack of athleticism, is unlikely to flourish in system which employs a high defensive line - such as Manchester City and Liverpool 's.
"His pace doesn't allow for that, he's always gonna be looking over his shoulder," Ferdinand stated on his YouTube channel, Vibe with Five.
"If I'm a centre forward, if I'm one of the quick centre-forwards or quick wide players, quick attackers, I would be hanging around where Harry Maguire is.
"For all the good traits that he has in his game, that is a big weakness in his game and that is a fundamental of all of the top teams is to be able to play one-v-one on the halfway line.
"So, I think for Maguire, long-term - unless he can find that extra yard of pace - it's gonna maybe be difficult for him."
