Four players in Manchester United's squad are currently entering the final year of their contracts, including key first-team players Harry Maguire and Casemiro. Based on the current situation, it is highly likely that both will leave on a free transfer next summer, which means new manager Rúben Amorim and Manchester United's senior management will have to make a major decision regarding their futures.
The four players whose contracts are about to expire are centre-back Harry Maguire, defensive midfielder Casemiro, left-back Tyrell Malacia, and backup goalkeeper Tom Heaton. Among them, Maguire's future has attracted particular attention from the outside world.
Maguire joined Manchester United from Leicester City in the summer of 2019 for a high fee of £80 million, signing a long-term contract in a "6+1" format at that time. In January this year, Manchester United chose to activate the extension option in his contract, extending his deal until the summer of 2026. Although Maguire himself has publicly stated his willingness to continue playing for Manchester United, the club has not yet reached an agreement with the 32-year-old English centre-back on a further contract extension.
On the other hand, 33-year-old Brazilian international Casemiro is also very likely to leave Old Trafford after the end of this season. He joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window of 2022 for £60 million, and his contract also included an optional extension clause until 2027, but the club has not yet exercised this option.
The combined weekly wages of Maguire and Casemiro are as high as £565,000. Therefore, Manchester United's management is facing a dilemma: whether to offer new contracts to retain these experienced but relatively old key players, or accept the reality of them leaving on a free transfer next summer to free up high salary space for team reconstruction. This decision will have a profound impact on the team's future salary structure and recruitment strategy.
