Harry Maguire is close to agreeing a contract that will keep him at Manchester United next season - but wants to know he is still valued by the club.
The 33-year-old’s current deal expires this summer and talks have taken place in recent weeks. We understand this would likely be a one-year deal with an option for another 12 months.
Maguire, who is with the England squad this week, said: ‘I think we’ll reach an agreement where it’s best for the club and myself. I think it’ll get sorted sooner rather than later, whether I stay or leave. But I think it will – it should – get sorted pretty soon.’
Maguire, 33, says his preference is to remain at Old Trafford.
‘Yeah, I love this club,’ he added. ‘But it’s got to be right for myself, it’s got to be right for the club as well. I don’t want to be staying on sentimental value. I want to be staying because I want to be there and the club want me to drive the club forward, and they feel like I’ve got a big part to play. If that’s the case, then I’m sure we’ll sit down and reach something.’
Maguire's contract update comes after his inclusion in Thomas Tuchel's final England squad before he decides which 26 players he wants to take to the World Cup this summer.
The 33-year-old, who played an integral role under Gareth Southgate, made his sales pitch to the German boss at St George's Park on Wednesday.
'I don't think I need to sell myself to the manager,' he says, before accepting the invite. 'I'm in a position now in my career where it is not so much about myself. I am 33 years old. I am just about the team now. If I play one minute at the World Cup or every game, I will still do everything I can to make sure this country is successful.
'It's not about me playing at the World Cup to try and say I am the best defender in the world. I want to be part of a group. I feel I can still play a big part on the pitch, but also off it. So there you go!
'There was a point when I didn't think it would come,' says the Manchester United defender. 'Probably at the end of last season, when I wasn't picked in the summer camp. The three (autumn) camps, I'd had a stop-start season to that point with injuries, so I didn't think, "I should have been selected". Then the change of manager happened (at United) and that has helped, with the form of the team and the formation we play.'
The change of manager, in January, was Ruben Amorim out and Michael Carrick in. Since then, during United's climb to third in the Premier League, Maguire has been first-choice centre back. Crucially, as part of a back four, not Amorim's three. Tuchel plays with four.
'The question mark as soon as you play in a back three is whether you can play in a back four,' begins Maguire. 'When you're playing a back five (three centre backs) and you're that middle one, automatically people think you're a little bit older, can't move as much, and you get protected. Which, you do actually get protected! But I've always said I much prefer playing in a back four. I feel like I can play more aggressive, play more on the front foot. That's a big part of my game.'
It is not just Maguire who has benefited from the changes at Old Trafford. The team has lost only one of 10 matches.
'The formation must have (made a difference) because the results before weren't good enough,' he says. 'I don't really have much bad to say about Ruben. I really like Ruben, I think he's got great ideas. The ideas just didn't work at Manchester United. I do believe he'll go on and have an amazing career. It just didn't click and I think us as players have got to take a lot of responsibility for that as well.'