 "England and Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire's form has picked up ever since Ruben Amorim assumed charge of the Red Devils in November. Reuters")
Life hasn’t been a bed of roses for Harry Maguire since he joined Manchester United on an £80 million deal from Leicester City in 2019. Inability to live up to his price tag due to lack of consistency led to Maguire facing the wrath of trolls more often than not over the years. With his contract expiring at the end of the 2024-25 season, the 31-year-old’s days at Old Trafford appeared to be nearing its end.
Maguire, however, has been a different beast ever since Ruben Amorim took over as United manager from Erik ten Hag in November, and his revival as a player has forced the club to alter their transfer plans. From appearing set to part ways with the club this summer, Maguire is now set to spend another season with the 20-time English top-flight champions after United triggered a one-year extension to his contract earlier this month.
How Maguire’s resurgence changes United’s transfer plans
Maguire’s form had nosedived when Ten Hag was in charge, but the former United captain has taken a liking to Amorim’s style of play, with the Portuguese coach showing a preference for three central defenders.
“I think he coped very well with his struggles and when you look at our team, we are starving for leaders on the pitch.
“He is a leader, he has to improve that part and he has to improve our game and we are happy to continue with him,” Maguire had told Sky Sports recently.
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With Maguire set to stay at Old Trafford for more than a year now, United will not make splurging cash on another centre back their priority, meaning they are likely to abandon their pursuit of England and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who would have cost the club £70 million and weekly wages of £160,000.
Instead, they’re likely to opt for a cheaper, younger centre-back to keep the likes of Maguire as well as Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Leny Yoro on their toes and ensure they don’t get complacent.
The Jim Ratcliffe-led INEOS Group, who have been in charge of sporting operations since December 2023, are unlikely to spend a fortune in the transfer window unless United stage a miraculous comeback in the last five months of the season and return to the UEFA Champions League.
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And in such a scenario, the funds saved by not buying Brathwaite could instead be directed towards signing a centre-forward or a defensive midfielder later this year.