Man Utd bosses want two future stars to play ahead of £80m signing next season

Senior Manchester United figures are keen to see Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven get more minutes next season over Harry Magiuire who is facing an Old Trafford exit.

Maguire has entered the final six months of his deal at the club and is able to hold talks and sign a pre-contract agreements with teams outside of England.

Teams from Italy have already reached out with a number of Premier League sides also keen on his services should he become a free agent in the summer.

The England international missed almost two months of action with a thigh problem but returned to fitness just as Michael Carrick took the reins as head coach until the end of the season following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

Maguire has been a rock in defence in United’s two games under the new boss, starring alongside Lisandro Martinez in huge victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Carrick is thought to have told United’s decision-makers that Maguire, an £80million signing from Leicester City in 2019, is central to his plans this season, ruling out a January exit.

But as it stands, there are no talks over a new contract for the former captain who will leave the club this summer unless something changes.

United do have depth at centre-half with Matthijs de Ligt a regular starter when fit. The Netherlands international has not played since the start of November however due to a back problem.

Yoro, a £52million signing from Lille in 2024, and former Arsenal youngster Heaven have both had spells in and out of the team with Maguire and Martinez likely to be Carrick’s first-choice pairing ahead of them.

But the Daily Mail report senior figures at the club are keen to see Yoro and Heaven, aged 20 and 19 respectively, given more minutes next season with belief the pair with be the foundation of United’s defence for years to come.

United have already confirmed Casemiro will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. While one of their most consistent performers this season,  his departure will save the club £300,000-a-week in wages with the club perhaps tempted to do likewise with Maguire.

With doubts over Bruno Fernandes’ future however, United could lose three vitally experienced players in the summer with club great Jaap Stam eager to see Maguire kept on.

‘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,’ Stam told Metro this week.

‘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.’