Harry Maguire 'braced for mega-money approach from SAUDI': Manchester United star 'set for January talks with two clubs' with his contract expiring next summer

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire could be in line for a shock move to the Saudi Pro League.

The 32-year-old centre-back joined United for £80million in 2019, a record move for an English defender which still stands to this day, and is out of contract in June.

And reports have now emerged that Maguire has become a target of Saudi side Al-Nassr – the club of Maguire’s former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo – as well as Al-Ettifaq, according to the Mirror.

Maguire is free to talk with clubs when January 1 hits and, given the amount of money on offer from the Middle East, could be tempted by the move away.

United triggered the optional one-year extension on his contract in the summer – something which he claims was done without any consultiation with the defender – and it is yet unclear whether the club will choose to offer their former captain fresh terms.

He said of his contract situation in August: ‘The clause was in their hands, so there was no option for me there. There was no talking. It was just that they activated it, and it got extended. This year, obviously I'm up at the end of the year.

‘I'm pretty sure the club have made it aware this summer that I can't leave the club on any terms with other clubs enquiring about my things and my position with my contract.

‘I'm sure over the next few months they'll sit down and we'll have to have a conversation about where we want to go and if they want to extend, or obviously the transfer window will open again in January.

‘Obviously, I have something in my mind about what I want to do and what I want to be. I don't want to put it out there to everybody, but it's an amazing club to play for and you'd be silly if you wanted to jump out of it as soon as you could.’

Maguire has had a turbulent time since joining the Premier League giants from Leicester in August 2019.

Signed by former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Maguire was soon handed the captain’s armband by the Norwegian.

But that position of authority was later rescinded by Erik ten Hag, and Maguire came close to joining West Ham in 2023.

While the Sheffield-born defender initially enjoyed something of a renaissance under Ruben Amorim, he has been unable to cement his place in the Portuguese’s starting line-up this season.

Amorim has been opting to rotate Maguire with impressive youngster Leny Yoro, who they brought in from Lille for £52million last summer.

Yoro started ahead of Maguire in Saturday’s win over Sunderland at Old Trafford, with the Englishman only getting the nod in the 85th minute once United had reached a comfortable, two-goal lead.

Maguire has won 64 caps for his country but has been left out of the current squad by Thomas Tuchel and faces an uphill battle to force his way back into the reckoning for next summer's World Cup.