Erik ten Hag insists HE will decide Man United's next captain

Erik ten Hag has silenced talk of a dressing room vote to decide Manchester United's next captain, instead insisting the decision will be made by him.

Current club captain Harry Maguire lost his place in the starting line-up last season following a poor run of form and has found himself behind Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and even Luke Shaw in the pecking order.

As a result, Bruno Fernandes led the side out for a large portion of the 2022-23 campaign ahead of this summer's window that has left the 30-year-old's future at the club uncertain. And his position as captain untenable.

Ten Hag has quashed speculation that the decision on the next skipper could be decided by a dressing room vote, similar to the approach adopted by other clubs.

'No, I don't let the dressing room vote,' the Dutch manager said. 'It is up to me.'

Maguire was signed by the Red Devils in 2019 for £80million - still the world-record fee for a defender.

But having started only 16 games last term, as revealed by Mail Sport last month, he is now one of several players up for sale this summer.

Manchester Evening News report that United have slapped a £50m price tag on Maguire - a figure which is expected to make interested parties baulk.

The England international has two years left on his current contract, but it is thought the club are ready to let him go this summer, after he fell out of favour under ten Hag.

The leading candidates for the role of United captain are Fernandes, who wore the armband for much of last season. And Varane, who led the side out in the first pre-season game against Leeds on Wednesday.