Harry Maguire has confirmed talks have taken place with Manchester United over a new contract, adding that whether he will remain or leave Old Trafford will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Sky Sports News Reports last week suggested United had held preliminary talks with Maguire over new terms, along with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
The 33-year-old centre-back’s current contract at Old Trafford is due to expire this summer, but a one-year extension is understood to be being discussed, with an option for a further year.
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Watch for free: Highlights from the match between Bournemouth and Manchester United in the Premier League.
After signing for United for £80m in 2019, Maguire’s extended stay will see him serve at least nine years at the club.
Maguire, an ever-present for Michael Carrick’s rejuvenated United side, has earned his first England recall in 18 months. Asked about the current status of talks over a deal with the club, Maguire was positive the right decision would be made and it would not be based on sentiment.
“I think there was an agreement,” Maguire said. “I think we will reach an agreement that is best for the club and myself.
“I’m sure we’ll find out in the next few weeks what the agreement is. But, yeah, I think it’s going to be sorted out sooner or later, whether I stay or I go. But I think it’s going to be sorted out soon. It should be.”
I like this club. But it has to suit me and it has to suit the club as well.
“I don’t want to dwell on sentimental values. I want to stay there and the club wants me to continue to improve the club and I feel like I have a big part to play in that, so I want to stay.”
“Then I’m sure we’ll sit down and come up with something.”
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Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has had many nice things to say about Harry Maguire and is hoping to hear more from the defender.
‘Amorim have great ideas – they didn’t work at Manchester United’
Maguire also opened up about former United manager Ruben Amorim. The Portugal manager was sacked in January, just 14 months after taking charge at Old Trafford.
Sky Sports News It was reported that Amorim’s ’emotional and inconsistent behaviour’ was a key factor in the decision and that his refusal to adapt and develop his preferred 3-4-3 system had led to a breakdown in trust in the manager.
Maguire has played more games since Carrick’s temporary return to the club, but has also achieved some notable performances under Amorim.
When asked about his former boss, Maguire admitted that Amorim’s style was a problem, but there is no doubt he would go on to succeed as a manager elsewhere.
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Sky Sports reporter Gary Cotterill takes a closer look at the ups and downs of Ruben Amorim’s tenure as Manchester United manager.
“I don’t have a lot of bad things to say about Ruben,” Maguire said ahead of Friday’s friendly with Uruguay. “I really like Ruben. I think he has great ideas, but those ideas didn’t work at Manchester United.
“I believe he will go on to have an amazing career and at his next club he will probably win a lot of football games.
“It just didn’t click or work and I think as players we have to take a lot of responsibility for that.
“But I think he has taken the club in a certain direction and I think he deserves a lot of credit for building a good, solid squad.”
