BREAKING: Man Utd to trigger Harry Maguire contract extension

Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Manchester United will trigger the one-year extension option in Harry Maguire’s current contract.

The England international was due to become a free agent in July, but the Red Devils have now decided to extend his deal until 2026.

Maguire joined Man Utd from Leicester City for €87 million in 2019, a world record fee for a defender at the time, and he has made a total of 222 appearances for the club since his arrival at Old Trafford.

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The 31-year-old was stripped of captaincy duties by Erik ten Hag last summer, but he appears to have re-established himself as a key player following the appointment of Amorim in November.

Maguire has started each of Man Utd’s last four Premier League matches and he has become a vital component of Amorim’s back three over the past month.

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What has Ruben Amorim said?

Speaking ahead of Man Utd’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Amorim confirmed news of Maguire’s imminent contract extension and revealed that Amad Diallo is also close to finalising a new deal at Old Trafford.

“Amad is near, Harry Maguire we are going to trigger our [contract extension] option,” Amorim admitted to reporters.

“I spoke with him [Harry] this morning and I told him he has to improve on the pitch, we need him a lot.

“Also, he has to improve as a leader. We all know the situation that he had here but we need him a lot in this moment, so we are going to trigger, happily, the option for him.

Amorim added: “When you look at our team we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader, he has to improve that part, he has to improve his game, so we are happy to continue.”