United open contract talks with rejuvenated veteran to ward off January interest from West Ham – report

Michael Carrick took quite a gamble when he chose to start Harry Maguire in the Manchester derby last weekend. The Englishman had been out injured for the last two months, and handing him a starting berth when Ayden Heaven had impressed during that period was not something too many fans expected. However, the former skipper produced a masterclass at the back, completely nullifying Erling Haaland in partnership with Lisandro Martinez. The caretaker head coach will be counting on the England international to remain fit if he is to guide the club back to the Champions League. Maguire’s current deal ends in the summer However, the 32-year-old’s current deal expires in the summer, and INEOS are not too keen to offer him an extension on his current £190,000 gross per week wages (via capology). The ex-Leicester City star remains keen to stay at Old Trafford, and according to Teamtalk, INEOS will consider offering him a one-year deal with an option of adding another year, albeit on reduced terms. Negotiations have been opened amid interest from Serie A clubs, who could potentially agree a pre-contract with the centre-back in January. However, Carrick has put his foot down, and the Red Devils have rejected all approaches. Now, Premier League side West Ham United have also joined the race. West Ham interested “Sources close to the club reveal that the 32-year-old defender is deeply committed to staying at Old Trafford, viewing it as his long-term home despite recent uncertainties. However, the United hierarchy appears reluctant to commit to a lengthy extension. The fact that Maguire’s deal is expiring has prompted negotiations. United’s preference leans towards a short-term deal, likely a one-year extension with an optional second year, to minimise risk. “This would come with a significant pay cut from his existing £190,000-per-week salary, aligning with the club’s strategy to shed high-earning older players. “But as the January transfer window reaches the halfway point, suitors like West Ham and Napoli are monitoring the situation. For now, the ball is firmly in United’s court, but Maguire’s resolve could convince them otherwise.” United could do with Harry Maguire’s experience Should Carrick continue to play Harry Maguire at the heart of United’s defence, INEOS will have no choice but to offer him a new deal given his importance to the team. Despite his age, the 20-time English league champions could do with the defender’s ability at both ends of the pitch and his leadership qualities. However, a younger alternative must be recruited next summer irrespective of what happens with United’s No.5. Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25