Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Manchester United have triggered a one-year extension to Harry Maguire's contract, while the club are close to agreeing a new deal with winger Amad.
Maguire's future at the club has been the subject of speculation since the captaincy was taken from him in July 2023 and his appearances were reduced under Erik ten Hag, the man Amorim succeeded at the helm.
Maguire's contract was due to expire on 30 June this year. But in his press conference for Sunday’s match at Liverpool, Man Utd's head coach said the club have taken up an option to extend the 31-year-old’s deal by a year, adding that the defender is a leader in a club starved of them.
"[For] Harry Maguire, we are going to trigger our option," Amorim revealed. "I spoke with him this morning and I told him he has to improve on the pitch, we need him a lot.
"Also, he has to improve as a leader. We all know the situation that he had here but we need him a lot in this moment, so we are going to trigger, happily, the option for him.
"When you look at our team, we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader, he has to improve that part, he has to improve his game, so we are happy to continue."
Amad contract close, Rashford ruled out
As for Amad, who has emerged as one of Amorim’s key players, scoring the winner in the Manchester derby last month, his deal is also due to expire in the summer. However, Amorim said a new contract for the 22-year-old is "near".
Meanwhile, Amorim has ruled out Marcus Rashford for the trip to Anfield, citing illness as the reason. The forward was missing from four of Man Utd's matchday squads prior to being named as a substitute in Monday's 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United.
