Manchester United close to agreeing new contracts with both players after their recall to England squad
It is simply the best of weeks for Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire, after reports emerged that they are now close to agreeing new contracts at Manchester United.
Even the event of Maguire’s red card against Bournemouth on Friday is hardly enough to cloud the positivity surrounding the 33-year-old. After months on the fringes at the club and away from the England squad, Maguire was recalled by Thomas Tuchel in his latest 35-man squad for the March friendlies.
That came after the centre-back started all of United’s last 10 games under interim coach Michael Carrick, a period that has seen them claim 23 points out of a possible 30. The club are top of the Premier League form table in that period.
Mainoo has also started all of the club’s games since Carrick took over, a drastic change given he had not started in the league at all for the first half of the season. He has also not started for England since September 2024 and his World Cup hopes looked like a lost cause, but having been included in Tuchel’s squad he now has a genuine chance to fight for a spot on the plane to the Americas.
United 🤝 pic.twitter.com/1YbRKU0wUr
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 20, 2026
Mainoo’s current deal at United runs until 2027 with an option for an additional year, but he is now in line for a significant extension that would keep him at Old Trafford until 2031, alongside a substantial pay rise. Amorim was right in his frequent comments about how quickly things can change in football.
Maguire’s extension is the more urgent business. The defender’s current contract is set to expire in the summer, but United are now working to finalise a short-term deal that would see him remain for at least another season, with the option of a further year.
United’s upturn in form since January has completely turned around the fortunes of both players, and they have every right to enjoy it.
