Revealing details of Manchester United's contract extension talks with Maguire! Sir Jim aims for £80,000 weekly wage on a one-year deal, while Maguire sets a salary cut limit

According to the UK’s talkSPORT radio, Manchester United has begun informal negotiations to extend Harry Maguire’s contract by one year. The 32-year-old English center-back scored the winning goal in the 2-1 derby victory over Liverpool, becoming a hero in the eyes of Red Devils fans worldwide. Supporters praise Maguire’s greatness, with some even creating statues of him outside Old Trafford.

British media reports that Maguire’s contract talks have not yet reached a formal stage, but he hopes to receive clear news before the January transfer window opens. At that point, he would be eligible to sign a pre-contract with overseas clubs. Therefore, confirming whether he will stay at Manchester United first determines whether he will engage in deeper discussions with representatives from the Saudi Professional League.

talkSPORT has learned that Maguire wants to clarify his situation as soon as possible so he can focus on football. He also hopes to be selected by Thomas Tuchel for the England national team. The 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico will likely be his last chance to participate, as he will be 37 by the next tournament and no longer eligible.

Currently, Manchester United highly values Maguire both on and off the pitch. Although former coach Ten Hag stripped him of the captain’s armband, the "big head" remains one of the leaders in the dressing room. Ruben Amorim has reaffirmed Maguire’s status in the team, and Maguire has responded with crucial goals.

Now, Maguire is willing to renew his contract and even accept a pay cut. However, there are still disagreements over salary and contract length, so an agreement cannot be reached immediately. Maguire’s regular weekly wage remains one of the highest in the squad, around £190,000 per week.

However, this season, due to missing out on European competition, a 25% salary reduction penalty clause in his contract has been activated, lowering Maguire’s weekly pay to about £140,000. Insider sources at Manchester United emphasize that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group has yet to make a decision on the renewal but is very likely to submit a formal offer.

Manchester United’s stance is that offering Maguire a new contract with a reduced weekly wage would allow the club to keep an important player and leader, or at least protect his transfer value before the next summer window. In the latter case, if after renewing Maguire finds his situation unsatisfactory and wishes to leave, the Red Devils will respect his decision.

Al Nassr, the Saudi Pro League leaders where Cristiano Ronaldo plays, are interested in Maguire, as is Dammam Cooperation. The MLS club New York Red Bulls has also held exploratory talks with Maguire’s representatives. Currently, Maguire has not considered moving outside England or Europe; he prefers to stay at Manchester United and believes other clubs in the top five leagues, including Premier League teams, would be interested in him.

However, as this will be his last major contract, Maguire will not easily give up his financial interests, which is entirely understandable. Manchester United once agreed to sell Maguire to West Ham for £30 million, but the deal collapsed due to wage compensation disagreements. Maguire could easily earn a tax-free weekly wage above £200,000 from Saudi backers, with rumors suggesting offers as high as £500,000!

Maguire obviously hopes to stay at Manchester United with a new deal closer to his current earnings, aiming for a £140,000 weekly wage. Reportedly, his agent has proposed a minimum base salary of £125,000 plus performance bonuses, with a contract term of over two years. However, Sir Jim only wants Manchester United to offer £80,000 per week on a one-year contract. The two sides have yet to come close to an agreement, and tough negotiations seem inevitable.