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Manchester United bosses are said to be split over what to do about the immediate future of Harry Maguire.

Maguire will become a free agent in June and has not been offered a contract extension to remain at Old Trafford.He is allowed to open talks with other clubs - and his representatives from'Triple S Management' have been in dialogue with some from across Europe.

Maguire is now 32. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reluctant to hand Maguire a new deal, and believes the likes of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven can be developed into having a long-standing centre back partnership.

While United still have the experience of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt to lean on. But Maguire still has a lot of backing and support from senior figures at United. The England international has proved in recent games he is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

While his knowledge and experience of being at United since 2019 has seen him become a defensive mentor to the likes of Yoro and Heaven. Interim manager Michael Carrick has not been consulted, when it comes to Maguire's contract situation.

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But Carrick has let it be known Maguire is still valued and remains an integral part of the team's future. It's understood Maguire is reluctant to move abroad and uproot his young family.

He knows his best chances of winning more England caps in the future will be improved if he remains at Old Trafford.

And he is willing to accept a reduction of his £200,000-a-week wages, in return for penning a contract extension. Ratcliffe lacks genuine experience when it comes to running a football club. Let alone one the size of United.

But what he must grasp when it comes to the bigger picture surrounding Maguire, is that United lack leadership.

And this will be a problem exposed even more this summer, when Brazilian midfielder Casemiro leaves United. There is also a good chance captain Bruno Fernandes will do the same.

United are a rebuild in progress, but defence is not one of the priorities. And if Maguire is still capable of being a colossus in the biggest games, like he has been in the recent wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, it would make no sense to let him walk out of the door.

Maguire has been through some tough times during his United career. He has been frozen out by some managers at times, while Erik ten Hag stripped him of the captaincy.

He has also been a figure of fun with his own supporters. But he has shown resilience and character to come back fighting. To prove those who doubted him wrong.

And United should now show him some genuine appreciation in return.

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