Manchester United are again in the news looking at giving Harry Maguire a contract extension, something several writers following the team have suggested is on the way. The decision is not just a practical one, it’s the correct one.
Maguire was the punching bag for both the media and the fanbase during the collapse of the team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, and the following season he was mostly demoted to cup and Europa League duties with the occasional fill-in. Like most of the squad
in 2021/22, Maguire was underperforming, but he was far from the root of the problem. Even when he was benched, the team continued leaking goals.
Still, it was up to the player to force the issue when it came to his selection. He had to perform when given the chance, and he did just that. He became a regular again, and is arguably now back to being one of the undroppable players. Certainly injuries to Mattijs De Ligt and now Lisandro Martinez created more of a demand to keep Maguire in as one of the senior leaders in the squad, but the former captain has proven as strong as ever in heading the ball away, keeping the defense organized and kickstarting breakaways in a return to a more solid 4-2-3-1 shape under interim boss Michael Carrick.
Carrick’s arrival also brings familiarity, which always stands out between a player and manager. There’s a trust there that was evident from Maguire himself praising the team’s approach under Solskjaer, Carrick and Kieran McKenna. It was fitting that the very first goal under Carrick started from Maguire clearing a ball into midfield, where Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo took it the rest of the way against the noisy neighbors.
That familiarity may only be temporary if Carrick doesn’t manage himself into the conversation for the full-time position. The club may enter next season with not only a new manager with new concepts and philosophies about playing the game, they may also enter without the spine of the team for the last few years.
Casemiro’s departure is already confirmed, rumors of the club trying to cash in on Bruno Fernandes have returned, and Maguire is currently set to be out of contract after the World Cup.
Losing just one of those players makes planning and recruitment difficult enough, losing all three could make for a catastrophic transition if not handled properly.
Most fans would love to see Bruno stay, and rightly so. He’s on pace for one of his best seasons at the club as a creative threat with 12 Premier League assists already. He is also the team captain and undisputed talisman at the club.
While his impact isn’t quite the same level as Bruno, Maguire is a player the club could, and probably should, keep around for a while longer as well. He is an obvious plus in terms of aerial ability at both ends, a strong defender and a leader in the team with plenty of top level experience, but he is also one of the better players at a vulnerable position where such experience is invaluable.
The club has invested heavily at center back in recent years. Martinez, De Ligt, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven have all come in, and still Maguire is heavily relied upon. Having depth at the position is important for obvious reasons at the moment, with two of those four currently injured, but the experience to pair with young talent is vital in defense.
If Maguire is still starting regularly three years down the line, that’s probably not a great sign for the club’s investments, but what is clear already is that he is still a reliable and resilient option. Above all, he heads the ball away (pun intended). Give him the contract.
