If reports are to be believed, Harry Maguire looks set to sign a new deal that’ll keep him at the club for another year with an option for another year. Maguire, who was sidelined under Erik ten Hag, got back in favor under Ruben Amorim and has been a mainstay under Michael Carrick.
The England international has had his ups and downs since joining the Reds in 2019, but he has found his way back because he ultimately offers more to the side than those competing for his position. His ability in the air,
physicality, and resilience during adversity are qualities that aren’t as easily available nowadays. It also helps his cause that there aren’t many outstanding center-backs in the market.
Mark Guehi, who is now a Manchester City player, was the primary target for the big Premier League clubs last summer and in the January window. Guehi, while a decent player, is far from a missed opportunity, which reveals something about the market for this position. If a serious talent in this position does become available, United should have little trouble entering the market for said talent in the forthcoming summers.
More importantly, though, Maguire’s extension could help United’s young center-backs Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven continue their development. Of course, when they start games, they’ll be expected to perform at a high level, but it’s much easier to live through a poor performance when there are senior center-backs ready to take the flak.
Yoro, who has struggled in plenty of games this season, will know this all too well, but this is part of the development process. “With all the experiences he has, he gave a lot of tips, he spoke to me a lot on the pitch, so this helped me a lot,” revealed Yoro earlier in the month. United have often seen young players get swallowed up by the expectations in recent years, and while they should be held accountable for their own performances, it doesn’t help the club when this happens regularly.
Maguire’s extension will allow him to achieve his personal ambitions as a United player, and maybe even help the team compete for the big prizes next year, while also allowing United’s talented young center-backs the time to realise their potential. This move makes sense for several reasons.
