The long-awaited exodus from Manchester United no longer seems to include two stars who were previously thought to be leaving the club.
Manchester United will be one of the busiest clubs this summer in terms of player transfers. New signings are wanted in central defence, right-back and central midfield, after reinforcements in attack are in place.
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To make room and fund new players, Manchester United are willing to let a number of stars disappear either on a free transfer or through permanent transfers.
In terms of contracts expiring, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelöf and Christian Eriksen are all in the final two months of their respective deals.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, reserve goalkeeper Heaton and reserve defender Evans are both set to leave the club.
In a now-deleted social media update on April 15, Romano wrote: “Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans are both on their way out of Manchester United at the end of the season, the plan has been confirmed.”
However, according to an update from The Daily Mail, Romano may have been hasty when it comes to Heaton.
They claim that the 39-year-old is now in talks over a one-year extension, which will make him Manchester United’s third choice in the goalkeeper position. This is good news for Heaton, who according to the report has no plans to retire if the contract is not renewed.
With Heaton now on his way to staying, Manchester United have thus removed two players from their list of potential departures.
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Harry Maguire gets a new contract
Manchester United have tried to sell veteran centre-back Harry Maguire several times over the past two summers, even accepting a £30 million bid from West Ham in 2023. Maguire’s career at Old Trafford has had its ups and downs, but according to The Athletic, he is now stronger than ever at the club.
His dramatic winning goal against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals is the most obvious highlight. Maguire also showed impressive technique before setting up Manchester United’s first goal against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night.
His performance on the pitch has improved considerably since Ruben Amorim took over, and according to the report, his leadership skills are also highly valued among key decision-makers.
The Athletic revealed
: “He is now at a stage where United’s management wants him to have a long-term future at the club, even after his active career. Negotiations on a new contract are expected this summer, after his one-year extension was triggered in January.”
Maguire’s current contract expires after the 2025/26 season. An extension is now on the agenda, and he can get a role at the club even after he retires.
