"Fantastic" Manchester United star given ultimatum over staying at Old Trafford | OneFootball

Manchester United central defender Harry Maguire will reportedly have to accept a pay cut if he is to stay and sign a new contract at Old Trafford.

The 33-year-old has had a mixed spell at Man Utd, but there’s no doubt that he’s bounced back well after a difficult start to life at the club.

Maguire could even now earn a new deal to extend his stay with the Red Devils, though that would apparently rest on him lowering his wages from £190,000 per week to £100,000 per week, according to iNews.

The report adds that United are looking at defenders in the transfer market this summer, with Nottingham Forest’s Murillo a top MUFC target.

Should Manchester United keep Harry Maguire?

Still, even if United bring someone new in, they could probably continue to benefit from the presence of Maguire in their squad, even if only for his experience and leadership in the dressing room.

The veteran England international arguably seems like a more reliable squad player than the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, who has been inconsistent, and Lisandro Martinez, who has been hugely injury-prone during his time with United.

There clearly seems like an important role for Maguire to play, but it will be interesting to see if he agrees to lower his wages or if he can get a better offer elsewhere.

Michael Carrick on Harry Maguire

United’s interim manager Michael Carrick recently hinted he’d be keen for the club to keep Maguire.

As quoted by the Guardian, when asked about Maguire, he said: “Harry’s an impressive character. He’s had a great career so far, hopefully there’s a lot more to come.

“The journey and the experiences that he’s had, certainly since he’s been here and with England as well, showed exactly what he is. I think we all know the player that he is and what he’s capable of doing.

“The other night [against Everton] I thought he was fantastic. Experience helps. His attributes help, and his character. His willingness to put himself out there. He’s really impressive at his age and he’s been really important for us.”