England defender’s contract runs out in the summer and the club could let him leave on a free or extend his stay
Harry Maguire was once the poster boy for everything wrong with Manchester United.
Brutally trolled on social media and told he was surplus to requirements, with then manager Erik ten Hag ready to ship him off the West Ham, the England defender insisted on remaining at the club, and he soon became the poster boy for resilience and mental strength.
Maguire has started and played full time in all six of United’s games so far under Michael Carrick. They have kept three clean sheets in that time, one more than they had managed in the previous 21.
United are better under Carrick, and while that is down to many factors, Maguire is an important part of it. But does the 32-year-old deserve a contract extension?
Maguire’s contract runs out in the summer, and there has been talk of a contract extension. United can either keep him and retain his experience, or let him go and trust instead in youngsters Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, and the more experienced Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, although the latter two have had problems with injuries and are therefore not fully reliable.
It is understood that United are interested in keeping Maguire, but only wish to consider that if he agrees to reduced wages, as part of their overall cost-cutting scheme under Ineos.
The player has been backed by former United captain Steve Bruce to remain at Old Trafford.
“I don’t think he’s ever let Man United down,” said Bruce. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets offered a new deal. Why wouldn’t you? I think centre-halves get better with age.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he went to the World Cup either. He’s got good experience, he’s played at the highest level. He’s never let England down either. And he’s given a reminder of just what he’s about over the last five, six weeks in particular, if he ever needed to.”
Maguire currently earns around £180,000-a-week in wages, but at 32 and set to turn 33 in March, United will only be willing to keep him on their books for reduced wages. Maguire has already made it clear he loves the club and his preference is to stay, but it is yet to be seen if he will accept United’s new, lower offer.
Earlier this season he said: “I have something in my mind about what I want to do and what I want to be. I don’t want to put it out there to everybody but [United is] an amazing club to play for and you’d be silly if you wanted to jump out of it as soon as you could.”
