Harry Maguire‘s renaissance at Manchester United hasn’t only earned the England defender a contract extension, it is also likely to save the club a packet in the transfer market this summer.
Maguire was expected to leave Old Trafford as a free agent along with Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans in June, forcing United to make another big signing in central defence a year after forking out £59million to Lille for Leny Yoro.
But Maguire’s revival this season, particularly since Ruben Amorim took over as head coach and installed him at the heart of a back-three, persuaded United to extend his £190,000-a-week contract until 2026 and may also change their thinking on summer recruitment.
Confidential understands that the club will look at a younger centre-back with potential rather than pay big money for a ready-made replacement like Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite who would have cost around £70m and £160,000-a-week in wages. That will enable United to re-direct their limited transfer funds to other areas of the team at a time when money is tight at Old Trafford.
Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Yoro are set to continue as United’s pool of centre-backs with Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw – if he stays – both able to play in the back-three.
Maguire’s return to form and favour continued at the Emirates on Sunday when he was outstanding in United’s FA Cup win over Arsenal on penalties. The 31-year-old’s performance was even better considering he was ill last week and was sent home from training, missing Friday’s session.
Harry Maguire signing a new deal has saved Man United millions as they will now not need to spend big on a new centre back this summer
Maguire has enjoyed a renaissance and was outstanding in United’s FA Cup penalty shootout win over Arsenal on Sunday
United were interested in splashing the cash on Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite but can now look to strengthen other areas of the team instead
Diego bumps into KDB
It wasn’t hard to find out what United’s new signing Diego Leon has been up to after flying in to sign a pre-contract as the club’s first Paraguayan player on Monday.
The 17-year-old left-back posted pictures of his visit on social media after completing the first stage of a £3.3m deal that could eventually be worth £7m to his club Cerro Porteno.
Leon, who won’t complete his move until July 1, had a tour of Old Trafford and Carrington where he was pictured in the canteen with two of…