Report: Man United are considering the future of star player | OneFootball

Manchester United And The Harry Maguire Question

Manchester United’s relationship with Harry Maguire has travelled a long way from hostility to hard-headed reassessment, and it now sits at a crossroads shaped by age, contracts, finances and performance, as reported by The Athletic.

Atlanta, August 2025 offers a telling snapshot. Harry Maguire and his father, Alan, share a playful but pointed debate after a pre-season match against Everton about which of them was the better footballer. Alan recalls earning £35 per week in 1980s Sheffield, battling on unforgiving pitches for Brunsmere. “But Dad, I play for Man United,” laughs Harry. “England.” It is a family moment that captures both pride and perspective, a reminder that Maguire’s career has been far richer than many are prepared to admit.

That context matters. Maguire has endured some brutal chapters, particularly the online abuse of 2022, including from his own club’s supporters. Those wounds have healed, at least publicly, and the mood around him has shifted. His performance in United’s 3-2 win at Arsenal on Sunday underlined that change. Man of the match, it marked his 450th league appearance from 591 senior club games, spanning Sheffield United, Hull City, Wigan Athletic, Leicester City and now 258 appearances for United since his £80 million move in 2019.

Big Games Still Suit Maguire

Across six seasons in Manchester, Maguire has averaged 41 appearances per campaign. That figure will not be reached this season due to United’s early cup exits, but it remains revealing of his durability. A recent calf issue sidelined him for nine games, yet unlike previous seasons, he resisted the urge to rush back before full fitness. That patience paid off.

He and Lisandro Martinez were outstanding in the 2-0 win over Manchester City and again against Arsenal. Although Maguire has started only six league games this term, the results are striking. Four wins against City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, a draw at Spurs and only one defeat at Brentford. These are not peripheral contributions. They are decisive ones.

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Maguire remains a vice-captain, part of the leadership group, and a defender who delivers big moments when the stakes rise. He is, as several coaches have noted privately, a big-game player.

Contract Uncertainty And Club Calculations

Yet the uncertainty is real. Maguire turns 33 in March and is out of contract at the end of the season. Since January 1, he has been free to speak to overseas clubs about a pre-contract agreement. Interest has emerged from Italy and Turkey. His former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is now coaching in Saudi Arabia, although a move that far from home does not obviously appeal to someone settled near Manchester with his wife Fern, their two daughters and close family ties in Sheffield.

United, meanwhile, have not held substantive talks over his future. Midfield strengthening is a priority, but the club also want a defensive leader as they reshape following Ruben Amorim’s departure. For now, Maguire and Martinez form the preferred central pairing, with Martinez’s passing and aggression complementing Maguire’s aerial dominance and willingness to put his head where it hurts.

Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot fill the full-back roles, while Matthijs de Ligt remains the highest-paid central defender. De Ligt’s recent absence through a back injury has only sharpened Maguire’s importance. Younger options like Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven offer promise, but not yet weekly certainty. United are still conceding too many goals, 34 in 23 league games, more than any club in the top 12.

Money, Europe And The Final Decision

Replacing Maguire would not be straightforward. Top-class centre-backs at accessible prices are scarce, particularly for a club watching its spending closely after years of excess. Marc Guehi has joined Manchester City, while Dayot Upamecano is expected to renew at Bayern Munich.

Champions League qualification looms large. United players earn between 15 and 20 per cent less without it, Maguire included. Qualification would increase wage costs but deliver far greater revenue. Maguire is among the club’s top earners at a loss-making institution that has already trimmed costs. Casemiro is leaving at the end of the season, Marcus Rashford is on loan at Barcelona and the margins are tightening.

From Maguire’s perspective, regular football is essential. From United’s, his playing time strengthens the case for renewal. Interim coach Michael Carrick rates him highly, praising his ability to win duels, something that was again evident against Arsenal, where he did not lose a single one. England ambitions remain, with 64 caps already to his name and a World Cup still in sight, even if Thomas Tuchel has yet to select him.

The ball is with United. More performances like Sunday will only tilt it further in Maguire’s favour.

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Maguire has gone from being a lightning rod for frustration to one of the few defenders supporters trust in the biggest matches. That matters. Fans see the numbers, the duels won, the calm in chaos, and they recognise reliability when they see it.

There is also realism. Maguire is 33 soon, on a heavy contract, and United cannot repeat old mistakes by handing out long deals driven by sentiment. But letting him walk without a clear upgrade would feel reckless. The defence already leaks goals, and relying solely on youth and potential would be a gamble.

Supporters want balance. A shorter contract, sensible wages and clear expectations feel like the adult solution. Maguire does not need to be the future, but he can still be part of the present. In a squad crying out for leadership and resilience, that has value.

For many fans, the anger has faded. What remains is respect, and a growing belief that keeping Maguire, on the right terms, might be one of the smarter decisions United make in a long while.