Manchester United are willing to take the risk on Harry Maguire by opting out of exercising the 12-month option in the defender’s contract.
According to The Express, Manchester United are unlikely to take up the option to extend Harry Maguire’s deal for another year. The Red Devils have the option to trigger a mandatory extension, but they are now reportedly willing to let go of the £80 million star amid Saudi Arabian interest.
Harry Maguire has had a strange few years at Manchester United, particularly since the arrival of former boss Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman did not prefer to use the English international, who joined the Premier League club for £80 million, in his backline and even stripped him of the captain’s armband.
While Maguire has often found himself as a key man in many Manchester United teams, even ten Hag had to cave in late on, and the same could be said of current boss Ruben Amorim. The Manchester United defender was the subject of an exit for a few years as well, with his future still very much in the balance as things stand.
There were talks of a new deal for Harry Maguire, as Manchester United might have considered protecting his value amid Saudi Arabian interest. The Middle Eastern clubs were indeed keen after the European window ended in the summer, but Maguire’s sale at that stage may not have been possible.
Manchester United had already pondered selling him in January, but there might be a case here that the defender could see out his contract at Old Trafford. In theory, he could have many interested parties lining up a Bosman move, with the interested Saudi sides like Al-Nassr even considering a pre-contract in January.
Manchester United ready for Harry Maguire exit
Amid the interest from Saudi clubs, Maguire might opt to leave Europe for the Middle East, as this could be a last opportunity for him to get a big contract in his career. On the other hand, Manchester United are unlikely to trigger an extension in his deal, which could have potentially seen the £80 million star get some transfer value if clubs were ready to pay.
Despite paying a world record fee for a defender when they signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City in 2019, the club are now open to letting him leave for nothing. The club will improve their wage bill when the centre-back departs, as it remains to be seen where Maguire’s next destination will be.
