Harry Maguire looks increasingly likely to sign a new contract at Manchester United and extend his Old Trafford career beyond this summer.
Maguire’s £180,000-a-week deal runs out at the end of June, and he has been free to talk to foreign clubs since the start of the year as United continue to consider whether to offer him new terms.
AC Milan made contact with United and Maguire’s camp in January and there was interest from Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah, where his old Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers is now in charge. Maguire, who left the Foxes for United in a £80million deal in 2019, wants to stay at Old Trafford if possible as he approaches his 33rd birthday next month.
Club sources say the situation is different to Casemiro, who will also be a free agent in June and has confirmed that he will definitely be leaving. With United expected to make Maguire an offer after he established himself as a key player under new head coach Michael Carrick, it’s hoped that the two sides can reach an agreement over his new salary and the length of the contract.
It would represent a remarkable turnaround for the England defender who has remained loyal to United during a rollercoaster career in which he has had to win over supporters and also his manager at times after losing the captaincy under Erik ten Hag.
Maguire was included in a six-man leadership team by Ruben Amorim and is known to be highly-rated by Carrick, who put him straight back in the starting line-up after being appointed until the end of the season. Maguire has impressed in central defence alongside Lisandro Martinez and shown his leadership skills as Carrick started off with four straight wins ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with West Ham at the London Stadium.
A new contract for Harry Maguire would represent a remarkable turnaround for the England defender, who has remained loyal to United during a rollercoaster career
Fury over away fans at Old Trafford
Serious questions are being asked of United after another incidence of away fans being sat in home areas.
Furious season-ticket holders reached out to Confidential to shed light on the issue, which has cropped up in the area next to the recently-issued padded seats in front of the directors’ box. The fans have shared photographs showing two supporters in the home end wearing Tottenham Hotspur shirts and scarves during the 2-0 win over Thomas Frank’s side on Saturday.
Fans have reported other incidents this season with one fan pictured on the front row for the opening game of the season against Arsenal wearing a ‘Saka 7’ shirt while surrounded by United fans.
According to sources, it is also understood to have been an issue for the visit of Chelsea in September and the recent derby against Manchester City, although involving isolated cases of individual fans each time.
United have had trouble with away fans in home areas before with Rangers and Galatasaray and even admitted in January 2025 that they cannot ‘completely eliminate’ the possibility of it occurring at Old Trafford, even after the implementation of what have previously been described as ‘strict’ preventative measures.
In response to the latest breach, club sources stressed that it is United policy not to sell tickets to away fans in hospitality or in general admission and that the strongest action is taken – including immediate ejection – if offending fans are identified inside the stadium, as well as implementing robust, proactive measures to stop touting and bots directing tickets towards away fans.
Euro tour for Reds?
It looks as though United will be spending pre-season in Europe this summer rather than going on tour to more far-flung corners of the world.
The Reds have been regular visitors to America in recent seasons, but the shorter window after the World Cup and concerns about over-saturation of football in the US following the tournament means they were unlikely to return this year.
Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez head for Chicago on United’s pre-season tour of the USA last summer
The club have also rotated trips to Asia, Australia and Africa, but insiders say the indications are that a Europe-based pre-season seems more likely at this stage even though discussions are ongoing which may yet alter their plans.
Daily Mail Sport revealed that United are in talks with Wrexham over a friendly in Finland. They routinely play at least one game in Scandinavia, and have also appeared in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin in recent years.
Even if pre-season is confined to Europe, it would still make sense for United to hold a training camp due to the importance of more intense preparation and team-bonding on tour. However, they are unlikely to arrange a warm-weather training camp in the remaining weeks of the season after the prospect of a lucrative visit to the Middle East diminished.
The club have been in discussions with the Saudi Pro League, and officials in Kuwait also claimed that talks have taken place, but there has been no significant progress so far.
The United players will be given a few days off after the West Ham game on Tuesday night, with the club not involved in the FA Cup this weekend. As things stand, it will be the same during the two 11-day breaks in March and April, although sources say that a Middle East trip cannot be completely ruled out.
Yoro puzzle solved
The extended breaks will be of particular benefit to United’s foreign players who can fly home for a few days, but speculation that Leny Yoro had already made an early departure and might miss the West Ham game on Tuesday night has proved premature.
Photos posted on social media on Sunday evening claimed to show Yoro with his girlfriend at Manchester Airport about to catch a Ryanair flight back to France. When the 20-year-old was nowhere to be seen as the United players arrived at Stockport station to board a train to London on Monday afternoon, people put two and two together.
However, Confidential can confirm that Yoro is part of United’s squad for the game and is at the team hotel.
Speculation that Leny Yoro had already flown to France and would miss the West Ham game on Tuesday night has proved premature
United tracking teen stars
United are among the clubs who have noted the progress of teenage prospects Sedi Kinteh, of Tromso, and Valencia centre back Hugo Fernandez.
Kinteh is enjoying an impressive first season in Norway since moving from Senegalese academy Mawade Wade, which has an alliance with Tromso, and has already been rewarded with a five-year contract.
The 19-year-old Gambia international can play on the left side of central defence or at left back, and is known for his electric pace.
United and Chelsea are both monitoring him but will face competition from around Europe with Swiss clubs Basel and Young Boys, in particular, said to be weighing up a bid.
Fernandez is also attracting plenty of attention after being promoted to the first-team squad at Valencia, although the 18-year-old centre back has yet to make his debut in La Liga.
It’s understood that a clause in his contract means he could be available for £4.35m this summer, although that figure will double at the end of August.
United’s scouts are aware of the players, although it’s thought that they are not high on the list of potential targets given that they are of a similar age and style to Ayden Heaven.
United are among the clubs tracking the progress of highly-rated teenage defender Sedi Kinteh of Tromso (left)
Carrick all talked out
Michael Carrick became the first United boss to be interviewed at half-time of a Premier League game when he spoke to TNT Sports while walking out of the tunnel for the second half against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday – but don’t expect it to happen again for a while.
Carrick’s chat with pitch-side reporter Jules Breach means United have fulfilled their contractual obligation for this season under the new £6.7billion domestic TV rights deal.
Clubs have a choice between offering broadcasters the opportunity to interview the manager at half-time, a player just after he has been substituted, or access to the dressing room for at least 30 seconds after the game. It is dependent on the club winning – or being in a winning position at the time – with each Premier League team obligated to do it twice a season.
As the cameras were allowed into United’s dressing room at Anfield following their 2-1 win over Liverpool in October, United have now filled their quota. Ruben Amorim spoke to broadcasters at half-time during the Premier League Summer Series on tour in the US in July, but Carrick’s interview was the first during a competitive game.
Stars out for Spurs win
There was no shortage of celebrities at Old Trafford on Saturday as United beat Tottenham to continue their resurgence under Carrick.
Hollywood star Gary Oldman, a United fan and Old Trafford regular, was in the directors’ box close to Tottenham supporter Michael McIntyre.
Luke Littler came on to the pitch at half-time to parade his World Darts Championship trophy after winning the title for a second time, and F1 driver Isack Hadjar was seen chatting with Bryan Mbeumo and Carrick in the tunnel after the game. The 21-year-old French-Algerian, who races for Red Bull, knows Mbeumo through mutual friends and Carrick is a big fan of F1.
Luke Littler takes to the pitch at half-time of Saturday’s win over Spurs to parade his World Darts Championship trophy after winning the title for a second time
F1 driver Isack Hadjar with Bryan Mbeumo at Old Trafford
There was a strong Dutch contingent as well with Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman and his assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy – who also spoke to United before Carrick was installed as head coach – in the stands alongside Edwin van der Sar. The former United goalkeeper had spoken at an event at the Mercure hotel in Manchester on Friday night after attending the Munich memorial service earlier in the day.
When United beat Fulham the previous week, Aquaman star and celebrity fan Jason Momoa watched the game and had a picture taken with Matthijs de Ligt.
Back to school for Mbeumo
Bryan Mbeumo can’t stop putting smiles on faces right now, delighting supporters with his goals and making an impact off the pitch too, it has emerged.
Confidential has learned that Mbeumo organised for his old school to visit Old Trafford and Carrington on Monday before the players headed south to prepare for Tuesday night’s game against West Ham.
Students from Jeanne d’Arc La Salle College in Avallon got to explore the stadium on a tour in the morning and then spent some time with Mbeumo at the training ground before the players headed to Stockport train station.
Mbeumo holds his old school close to his heart and has previously travelled back there to give talks and sign autographs for students, only this time he upped the stakes to get students to Manchester. Hitting all the right notes on and off the pitch right now.
Chester steps in
Amid the miserable conditions at Leigh Sports Village on Friday night, it was interesting to see former United academy player James Chester among the coaching staff.
The former Wales international, who came through at Carrington as a player, returned to the club on a voluntary basis last year as he starts to cut his teeth in coaching. And while he is now working with the Under 15s on a full-time basis, new Under 21s boss Adam Lawrence turned to Chester to help assist with preparations for the draw against Derby County.
Chester, who was part of United’s 2007 FA Youth Cup team, which reached the final, played a prominent role in the warm-up and was seen working closely with centre backs Sonny Aljofree and Louis Jackson.
Currently studying for his UEFA B licence, it will be interesting to see how often Chester forms part of the Under 21s staff with Lawrence having previous for leaning on former United players, notably Phil Jones when both were working with the Under-18s.
What next for Elyh?
United goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson was an interested onlooker at Leigh on Friday night as he got a look at 19-year-old shot-stopper Elyh Harrison.
The teenager is highly regarded at United but has faced setbacks this season, not least falling out of favour while out on loan at Shrewsbury Town before that temporary switch was cut short by United last month.
Goalkeeper Elyh Harrison is highly regarded at United but has faced setbacks this season, not least falling out of favour while out on loan at Shrewsbury Town
Harrison did make his Football League debut at Shrewsbury and got minutes in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Vertu Trophy. Now he’s back at United, a decision needs to be made on what comes next. The feeling around United is that there could be a significant reshuffle in the goalkeeping department in the summer with 39-year-old Tom Heaton, currently third choice, out of contract. There are also doubts about No 2 Altay Bayindir’s long-term future.
Radek Vitek is excelling on loan in the Championship with Bristol City and could come back into the fold. But the youthful Harrison, who was on the first-team bench eight times last season, remains an intriguing prospect and Mawson has been tasked with making the most of his potential.
Jesse’s job offers
Former United midfielder Jesse Lingard is close to making his next career move with a decision expected as early as this week.
Lingard has been a free agent since leaving FC Seoul in December after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract in South Korea. The 33-year-old has been in talks with his old United team-mate Robin van Persie over joining Feyenoord, and is also known to have interest from Brazil and at least one English club.
Lingard’s association with United spanned more than two decades after he joined the academy at the age of seven and left for Nottingham Forest when he was 29.
