Paul Parker has spoken about Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and given his verdict regarding the club offering him a new deal ahead of next summer.
Manchester United made it three games unbeaten last night as they travelled to Molineux to face a deflated Wolverhampton Wanderers side.
Ruben Amorim’s outfit defeated the 20th-placed Premier League side 4-1. Matheus Cunha marked his return to his former side with an assist in the first half.
United’s captain stepped up for his side as he contributed two goals and an assist, whilst both Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo notched a goal apiece.
The Reds started Ayden Heaven in place of the absent Harry Maguire, who picked up an injury against Tottenham Hotspur in early November.
Parker on Maguire’s renewal
Maguire’s contract at United runs out next summer, and it is still unclear whether the club will offer him a renewal or part ways amid the player’s growing injury struggles over the last 18 months, during which he has missed upwards of 15 games.
Former United defender Paul Parker sat down with UtdDistrict and was asked about this, to which he said, “It makes no sense to offer him a deal, because at the end of the day, who’s offering the deal? Is it the manager, or is it because there’s someone who feels a bit sentimental?
“Sentiment will cost you, and it’s costing Manchester United now with Luke Shaw and things, but you have to move on. It was said to me about sentiment, and it hurt me, because at the end of the day, I would have accepted sentiment to stay at Manchester United longer.
“But you look at it, and common sense says no, the team’s got to go forward. When you look at young Heaven, you’d look at you’ve got [Lisandro] Martinez back now as well, then you’ve got [Matthijs] De Ligt, then you’ve got [Leny] Yoro, you’ve still got Luke Shaw still under contract and can do a job.
“No, Harry Maguire, they shouldn’t do it. Let him go off and get regular football somewhere else. If they want to go forward, they need to go forward; they can only go forward in those areas without him.”
United to look to the future
With the likes of Yoro and Heaven both breaking through at the club, the summer may present the Reds with the perfect opportunity to pass the torch from Maguire.
If United are to move on from their experienced Englishman, then it will be important that for the rest of the season, their young prospects take the time to soak up as much know-how as they can before his departure.
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Even if Maguire was to exit next summer, United would still have plenty of experience and quality in their defensive department to fill the void left by the 32-year-old.
De Ligt is experienced beyond his years, as he captained Ajax at only 18, so he will be more than capable of taking United’s young defenders under his wing.
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