Michael Carrick is a temporary solution for Manchester United until the end of the season, but the recent Harry Maguire contract situation shows a resolution might be closer than many think.
On paper, Harry Maguire’s contract situation doesn’t have much to do with Michael Carrick’s future at Manchester United.
If anything, if the initial plan is followed, Carrick won’t be here to manage Maguire even if he signs an extension at Old Trafford.
However, therein lies the interesting wrinkle in the situation, where Maguire and Carrick are helping each other achieve what they want.
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Harry Maguire Man Utd contract update
Maguire will turn 33 in March and earns close to £200k/week if the club qualifies for the Champions League.
Needless to say, for an extension to happen, he will have to come to the table with more realistic demands, both in terms of the renewal length and his salary.
It’s why his contract has ticked down to the last four months, where, theoretically, he can talk to other clubs with a view to making a free-agent move in the summer.
However, there’s a reason why he hasn’t, and it has emboldened United in their efforts to keep him.
BBC’s Simon Stone reports that there is growing confidence around Maguire and United meeting in the middle to extend the defender’s stay at the club.
This will come as great news to Man Utd fans, who were increasingly in support of the Englishman being rewarded for his great form under Carrick.
Carrick will also like this news, because it hints at Ineos coming around to his way of thinking.
Why Maguire’s contract news is great for Michael Carrick
Maguire has been one-half of the bedrock of United’s defence under Carrick, alongside Lisandro Martinez, upon which early success has been achieved.
Carrick putting his trust back in Maguire comes as a larger effort to restore the veteran spine of the club, which Ineos were looking to break.
In their efforts to make the team younger and cut the wage bill, Casemiro’s departure has already been confirmed, and Bruno Fernandes was open to being sold last summer.
As such, Maguire’s departure also looked likely, but now that Ineos are close to a breakthrough, it is an endorsement of Carrick’s methods at United.
Many dominoes have already fallen to bring Carrick close to getting the permanent job, and this latest move by Ineos continues that trend.
This is a move straight out of Carrick’s playbook and against Ineos’ philosophy, something they wouldn’t do if they thought they didn’t already have the right man in the dugout.
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