Updates on the contracts of Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire have been given amid Manchester United's determination to reduce their wage bill at Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have had an incredibly turbulent 12 months at Manchester United, following the hiring and subsequent firing of Rúben Amorim.
Maguire initially joined United in 2019 for an £80 million fee, a world record for a defender that stands to this day. However, after being granted the captain's armband just months into his first season, he has had a very up-and-down time at Old Trafford.
Mainoo's rise at United was much more meteoric. Initially breaking through toward the back end of 2023, the young midfielder became an integral part of United's squad, as well as forcing his way into the England XI that fell short at the 2024 Euros final.
But under Rúben Amorim, Mainoo failed to nail down a spot in midfield, while Maguire had good bouts of form consistently interrupted by injury problems. Since Michael Carrick's arrival, the pair have been nothing short of brilliant.
United to balance books with new contracts
The club are desperate to lower their wage bill once again this summer, and according to The Telegraph, United plan to shave as much as £1.2 million a week from the exits of Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Rasmus Højlund, and André Onana.
Beyond this, an update on Maguire and Mainoo's contracts was given. According to the report, Maguire's new deal at United, with a reduced wage package, is now imminent.
With Mainoo's new deal expected to give him a significant pay rise, Maguire's lowered wage will reportedly offset the increase in the young star's salary, allowing them to balance their books without offsetting too much extra in their wage bill.
Mainoo was close to an agreement on a contract extension before Amorim's appointment, but hope was nearly lost once the 20-year-old felt more like an outcast. Carrick's faith in his future has helped reignite conversations.
United's new wage structure will help the club
While the likes of Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and others, all on over £200,000 a week at Old Trafford, have sucked plenty of funding from the club's accounts over the years, their new crop of stars are on much more reasonable salaries.
It has been reported that the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, two new signings, are on around £150,000 a week, which may rise to around £200,000 a week once the club return to the Champions League.
Couple that with the likes of Amad and possibly Mainoo's wages being more around £100,000 a week, while Maguire accepts reduced terms, and suddenly the system at the club looks much more sustainable.
While it remains to be seen whether the biggest names in the world can be attracted by salaries that may not match those at Real Madrid or Manchester City, it certinaly gives United much more breathing room for new transfers.