Man United in talks with Maguire over a new contract amid Saudi interest

Harry Maguire’s representatives are understood to be in discussions with Manchester United over a potential new deal, after the 32-year-old defender also held talks with Saudi clubs.

Maguire is entering the final eight months of his current contract and is free to speak with other teams from 1 January. However, United are in ongoing talks about a possible renewal with their record defensive signing.

Ruben Amorim added the former club captain to United’s new leadership group in the summer, alongside Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Tom Heaton.

And reports suggest Maguire wants to stay in Manchester, though he may have to accept a pay cut to do so. Saudi clubs are also said to be interested, with Al-Ettifaq and Al-Nassr, home to Maguire’s former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, among those monitoring his situation.

Whether the financial lure of the Middle East will influence the centre-back’s decision remains to be seen.

United triggered the one-year extension clause in Maguire’s contract over the summer, a move the player claims happened without his consultation.

He addressed his contract situation in August, saying: ‘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.’

Meanwhile, Daily Mail Sport's Northern Sports Writer Chris Wheeler revealed on Wednesday that Maguire’s retrial over an alleged altercation in Mykonos has been delayed for a fourth time.

This comes more than five years after the United and England defender was arrested on the Greek island.

The hearing, scheduled to take place in Syros, was due to begin with Maguire’s legal team present and prepared to clear his name. It has now been postponed until March next year.

There is a possibility that it will never come to trial because the statute of limitations in Greece takes effect after eight years in August 2028.