Michael Carrick ‘100%’ wants Harry Maguire Man Utd contract deal | Football | Sport

Manchester United’s interim head coach Michael Carrick will be eager to secure Harry Maguire on a new contract, says ex-defender Wes Brown. Maguire’s future at United is up in the air as he entered the last six months of his current contract in January and has only started eight matches this season due to injuries.

Since Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and Carrick’s appointment, Maguire has been in the starting line-up for all three matches against Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham. With United reverting to a back four under Carrick and the expected permanent appointment of a new head coach likely to maintain a 4-2-3-1 system, Maguire is one of five natural centre-backs, including Ayden Heaven, 19, and Leny Yoro, 20, who the club has previously invested in.

“I love Harry Maguire. When people were giving him all that stick, they didn’t look at the facts. They just see that he’s not the quickest or something else but no Harry’s a very good player and absolutely brilliant in the air.

“He gives 100% in every game. He’s almost always in the right position. He’s got vast experience at all levels of the game.

“If Amorim were still in the job then Maguire definitely wouldn’t be getting a new contract but Michael Carrick’s come in and Harry’s playing and you’ve De Ligt and Yoro and some fantastic young defenders too who have excelled.

“So it’s a big decision. I think if it was up to Michael, he’d love to keep him because I think he’s proven he can get the job done. It’s as simple as that.

“At the same time you do have two potential players, along with Martinez, that can fill the gap who you are hoping will become big players, Yoro especially. He’s going to blossom. So if you could offer Maguire a one year deal and he’d take it, I think everybody would be happy with that.

“But football’s football. The way Harry’s playing at the moment, I’m sure there will be chats going on behind the scenes where other teams will be very interested in signing him up in the summer.”

“I think the main thing for Harry is that he’s back playing football and everyone can see he’s playing so well. I’m glad it’s happened because of the circumstances that I’ve seen where players are not playing and then there’s not much happening at the end of the season. You feel you still can play, still offer something, but it gets difficult.

“Harry will have options at the end of the season and hopefully one of them is staying on at United but it will be up to Harry but what a transformation he’s had since coming back in. We’ve looked solid and we’ve missed Martinez too and the two of them together have been brilliant. Luke Shaw as well.

“It’s just important that Harry stays fit and stays in the team because I think Michael’s a manager where players, especially defenders, if they’re doing well, you don’t change them all the time. Maybe your full-backs but your centre-backs need to settle and get an understanding and then you’re solid. That’s Harry at the moment, especially under Michael. You can’t see him dropping out of the team the way he’s playing.”