Harry Maguire has been charged by the FA over alleged improper conduct following his dismissal against Bournemouth, a development that could cost Manchester United the England centre back for the pivotal home meeting with Chelsea later this month.

United were frustrated that contact with Evanilson led to a penalty at the other end when Amad Diallo did not receive one in similar circumstances. Maguire protested to Atwell and then appeared to direct his anger towards fourth official Matt Donohue. Almost two weeks later the FA conveyed the charge over the allegation of Maguire acting in an “improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the fourth official following his dismissal.”

Maguire has until Thursday, April 2 to respond and provide any mitigation. He is already suspended for the upcoming visit of Leeds United to Old Trafford on April 13 after receiving an automatic one-game ban for the red card at Bournemouth.

What follows depends on the response and any evidence offered. The FA’s disciplinary rule covering improper conduct is broad and carries no standard sanction; punishment is determined case by case. Acceptance of the charge combined with remorse could prompt leniency and a lighter outcome. Mitigating evidence could lead to the charge being dismissed. If Maguire contests the allegation and it is upheld, any additional punishment could be more severe.

The range of possible outcomes runs from a fine and/or a warning about future conduct to additional matches added to his existing suspension. Manchester United will be without Maguire for the Leeds match regardless. An extended ban would rule him out against Chelsea five days later. The Red Devils also face Brentford before the end of April, but adding two more games to the suspension is described in this context as unduly harsh.

The Chelsea fixture carries major significance for United’s European prospects. A win would widen the gap between Michael Carrick’s team and the Blues, who sit sixth, and could move United closer to securing a return to the Champions League next season.

Elliot Anderson has sought to separate the transfer talk from his immediate objectives, telling reporters that his attention is fixed on the World Cup and his England duties. The player faced questions ahead of England’s warmup with Japan and made clear that speculation about moves to big clubs is secondary to his national-team commitments.

“Obviously, we’ve got the World Cup this summer so all my eyes are on that,” Anderson said. “Playing for England, I’ve got the badge on now so that’s all I’m thinking about at the moment.”

Reports in recent months have linked Anderson with Manchester United, who were thought to have identified him as a priority, while Manchester City are also believed to be in the market. Anderson’s early-March Premier League strike against City was singled out in coverage as evidence of his quality. Bayern have also been named as potential suitors.

Nottingham Forest, the player’s club, stand to benefit from any sale. The club paid a reported $44.8 million for Anderson in July of 2024 and would substantially profit from a transfer. That financial background is likely to give Forest leverage in negotiations and the player appears likely to have options if Forest decide to sell.

The wider market for high-value midfielders is active ahead of the summer. Manchester United were reported to have made sudden progress on a potential approach for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, a midfielder who has also been linked with Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Real Madrid’s apparent hesitance over Rodri, after he talked up the idea of joining Los Blancos, has been identified as a factor that could broaden the market for a dominant midfield signing.

For now, Anderson intends to maintain his focus on England and the World Cup rather than on the speculation surrounding his club future.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has made clear that Harry Maguire’s recall does not guarantee a place on the 2026 World Cup roster, saying other centre-backs better suit his plans. Tuchel praised Maguire’s recent performance at Wembley but warned the competition is fierce.

“I got exactly what I thought: solid central defender play,” Tuchel said. “That’s what he does. Very good on the ball, very calm, strong in the air and [as a] weapon for set pieces.” He then listed four players he rates ahead of Maguire in his system. “I see other players I like to start for us, I see other players ahead with a ­different profile,” Tuchel bluntly admitted. “I see Ezri Konsa ahead, I see Marc Guéhi ahead. It’s no secret. I see Trevoh Chalobah on the level of mobility slightly ahead of him. Also John Stones, but he had injuries so he needed to come in camp.”

Tuchel’s inclusion of John Stones highlights a key dilemma: availability. Stones started Manchester City’s first three Premier League games of the season but has since been sidelined. The 31-year-old has made one top-flight start since August and has missed 21 games this term. Last season Stones missed 34 matches, the year before that 11, and in this international break a training issue forced him back to Manchester City without playing a single minute. Across the last four seasons Stones has sat out 78 matches; over the same period Maguire has missed 45.

Tuchel pointed to mobility when explaining why Trevoh Chalobah is closer to selection despite having one senior England cap to Maguire’s 65. Chalobah, only an inch shorter than the United defender, registered a top speed of 32.3 km/hr in this season’s Champions League, a figure compared in the draft to Newcastle United’s Dan Burn. Chalobah’s familiarity with Tuchel goes back to 2021–22, when the manager gave him 31 appearances across all competitions before his exit.

Ezri Konsa’s standing with Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was also noted. “Sometimes I think that he is not as ambitious as I am with him,” Emery once reflected. “I believe in him more than he believes in himself.” There is a case for pairing Maguire with Konsa, but Tuchel’s view places Marc Guéhi and others firmly ahead. After three weeks adapting to the demands of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Guéhi said: “There’s a lot of detail,” the former Crystal Palace defender smiled.