Man Utd's private feelings on chances of Harry Maguire leaving club this summer
Manchester United remain confident that a compromise will be found that will allow Harry Maguire to stay at the club beyond the summer. Maguire's current deal expires at the end of June and his future is up in the air, with a decision yet to be taken.
When Ruben Amorim was still in charge it appeared likely that Maguire would be allowed to leave on a free contract in the summer. But the arrival of Michael Carrick as interim boss has given Maguire a new lease of life at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old defender has started all five of Carrick's games in charge, helping them record four wins and a draw while renewing his partnership with Lisandro Martinez. The upturn in form has given renewed emphasis to talks over Maguire's future, having been at the club since 2019.
Maguire is one of the club's highest earners, on around £180,000 per week, which makes him vulnerable, given Sir Jim Ratcliffe's desire to reduce costs. But BBC Sport reports that there is confidence behind the scenes at United that a resolution will be found to keep Maguire.
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That is likely to mean both a wage reduction and a shorter-term contract, perhaps just to cover the 2026/27 campaign. His future could depend on whether the club's hierarchy decide to stick with Carrick as the long-term manager.
Maguire will become a free agent when his deal expires on June 30 and he was therefore allowed to speak with foreign clubs in January. His representatives reportedly spoke to AC Milan but Carrick's arrival to take over from Amorim, when he was sacked on January 5, meant nothing came of it.
Carrick's appointment and an injury to Matthijs de Ligt have come at a good time for Maguire, who still has one eye on earning a place in Thomas Tuchel's squad for the World Cup. And with Casemiro leaving as a free agent in the summer, there is also the thought that United may want to keep another experienced player in the dressing room.
Former United defender Wes Brown has explained what Carrick is thinking about Maguire. "Will Michael Carrick want to give Harry Maguire a new contract? 100 per cent," he told BettingLounge.
"I love Harry Maguire. When people were giving him all that stick, they didn't look at the facts. They just see that he's not the quickest or something else but no Harry's a very good player and absolutely brilliant in the air. He gives 100 per cent in every game. He's almost always in the right position. He's got vast experience at all levels of the game.
"If Amorim were still in the job then Maguire definitely wouldn't be getting a new contract but Michael Carrick's come in and Harry's playing and you've De Ligt and Yoro and some fantastic young defenders too who have excelled. So it's a big decision. I think if it was up to Michael, he'd love to keep him because I think he's proven he can get the job done. It's as simple as that."
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