Jaap Stam has recently urged Manchester United to renew a “top-notch” star’s contract amid expiry fears.
Sitting in fourth in the Premier League, Manchester United are firmly in the driving seat for the Champions League football race for next season.
However, with the Red Devils only one point ahead of Chelsea in fifth and two points ahead of Liverpool in sixth, there is no time for United to get complacent.
The club have been here before after winning two games in a row but failing to keep up the consistent performances afterwards.
United will be hosting Fulham at Old Trafford. The London side, in their own right, are pushing for not only Europa League football, but potentially Champions League football as a win for them will put them one point behind United.
Stam pushes United to keep Maguire
After a lengthy spell out, Harry Maguire has continued his Manchester United resurgence with back-to-back dominant displays against Manchester City and Arsenal, winning player of the match in the latter.
With the return to a four at the back system, the Englishman has struck up a solid partnership with Lisandro Martinez.
Maguire’s current deal is set to expire in the summer, and Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has urged the club to extend the defender’s contract.
Stam said to the Metro: ‘Maguire has had a very difficult time at Manchester United in the last couple of years, so I have a lot of respect for him and the way he has come back into the team, looked top-notch and performed to a high level.
“That’s a very important example for the club, to have players who are trustworthy and solid performers. It’s very important to keep players like that within the squad. He’s got bags of experience and knows what is expected of players at a club like United.
“I understand that sometimes you need to make space in your squad to bring in new players, but there needs to be a balance between experience and youth. Maguire is the ideal person to stay at United, to play but also to help his team-mates reach and maintain high levels.”
Fierce competition at the back
During Ruben Amorim’s tenure at the club, his three-at-the-back system meant that United’s dearth of centre-back talent could all get regular minutes. Whether that was as a starter or coming off the bench, there were always minutes available.
However, with Michael Carrick’s return to the four-back system, that of course means one centre-back has to miss out. Right now, with the experience Martinez and Maguire both playing, the youth of Ayden Heaven, who won United’s player of the month for December, and Leny Yoro have naturally been reduced to bench roles.
When Matthijs De Ligt returns, competition for places will heat up. He, along with Maguire, was one of United’s standout players before his injury, and his return will cause a selection headache for Carrick.
The headache will not get easier, thanks to a recent report by the Daily Mail via the Metro that INEOS believe Heaven and Yoro are the future of Manchester United’s backline, and are keen for them to receive regular minutes.
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