Harry Maguire in line for shock big-money move after Man Utd transfer decision

Manchester United splashed out £80million to sign Harry Maguire when taking him from Leicester City, but the England defender's contract is up at Old Trafford next summer - although United have an option to extend it for 12 months

Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire could be in line for a shock move to the Saudi Pro League. The veteran centre-back, who cost United £80million when they snapped him up from Leicester in 2019 - still a world record for a defender - is out of contract in June.

And Maguire has become a target of Saudi sides Al-Nassr and Al-Ettifaq. He is free to open talks with clubs when January 1 hits and would be able to command huge wages if he decided to head to the Middle East and join the Pro-League.

Maguire's contract had been up last summer, but United elected to trigger a 12-month extension in his deal. Now, the Red Devils aren't expected to offer fresh terms as they look to the future.

Maguire will be 33 in March, and could be tempted to cash in on what would be the last lucrative move of his career, particularly with his England career winding down.

He said of his contract situation in August: "Last year, the clause was in their hands, so there was no option for me there. There was no talking. It was just that they activated it, and it got extended. This year, obviously I'm up at the end of the year.

"I'm pretty sure the club have made it aware this summer that I can't leave the club on any terms with other clubs enquiring about my things and my position with my contract.

"I'm sure over the next few months they'll sit down and we'll have to have a conversation about where we want to go and if they want to extend, or obviously the transfer window will open again in January.

"Obviously, I have something in my mind about what I want to do and what I want to be. I don't want to put it out there to everybody, but it's an amazing club to play for and you'd be silly if you wanted to jump out of it as soon as you could."

Maguire has won 64 caps for his country but has been left out of the current squad by Thomas Tuchel and faces an uphill battle to force his way back into the reckoning for next summer's World Cup.

If Maguire landed a move to Al-Nassr, it would see him reunited with a few familiar faces, most notably former United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.