Rich Fay of the Manchester World UK reports that Man Utd are looking to trigger the one-year contract extensions of both Amad and Harry Maguire, via The United Stand.
Maguire joined the club in 19/20 with his current deal ending in 2025. Amad joined a year later in the 21/22 season with his current deal also expiring in June 2025.
Final Thoughts
I'm not completely opposed to this. When looking at how the two of them have played for us this season and the fact that our squad does need some numbers, having Amad and Maguire as part of that squad could come in handy.
Harry Maguire isn't a player that I rate highly as I do believe he has his limitations but what I must commend him on is his professionalism.
The defender will always give off his best all the time it's just a pity that his overall quality isn't exactly what we need in terms of where we want to go with our style of play.
But to have good characters like him around the dressing room isn't a bad idea even more so considering that we know we cannot trust some of our players. I don't think that Maguire is one of those players.
This season, he has been good whenever called upon. He surprisingly started the campaign ahead of new signing Matthijs De Ligt but did a solid enough job against Fulham on the opening day to justify that start and warrant being in the XI for the following game, a trip to Brighton.
He did eventually lose that starting spot but when he's come into the side, whether off the bench or from the start, Maguire has displayed some quality that makes you think perhaps he still has a part to play at United.
His last-minute equalizer at Porto was all important not just to save us from what would've been a damning defeat but it also more importantly, at least for him, saved Erik ten Hag from what would could have been his final game at the club.
The only problems with Maguire is that lack of quality needed as a modern-day centre-back and the fact that he's become somewhat injury prone.
Over the last year, he has picked up four separate injuries that keep him out for a good amount of time. He also picked up something in the draw at Villa Park eight days ago that forced him off at halftime. We don't know when he will return.
At 31-years-old, these injuries could be a problem and nor do I think he's going to get any better.
If he is content with being a backup centre-back, then I don't see any reason why we shouldn't keep him.
On the other hand, should we want to truly develop, we will need more defenders that have the ability to play the modern way and suit the manager's style, which I don't think Maguire does.
Amad is a player that we've all liked for a long time but one that never really got a good run-in in the first team.
The Ivorian was always used as a bench/second team option when we all would've liked to have seen him more regular first-team action.
He has been in and out of the side for a long time and was even sent on multiple loans across Europe before Erik ten Hag finally gave him the opportunities he's waited so long for over the past year.
From the end of last season, Amad hasn't wasted those opportunities as since then, he has been one of our best players. That goal against Liverpool should warrant him a statue at Old Trafford and much like Maguire's late equalizer in Portugal, Amad's winner in that quarter final last season was as important in keeping Erik ten Hag in a job.
Had he not scored that, we don't win the game and we have to decide the tie on penalties which could've gone either way. If we lose, we don't win the FA Cup and ten Hag wouldn't have even been here to be under that same sort of pressure again.
Pretty funny how these two players are tied in with the manager's fate.
Amad's performances have been good enough to keep him in the first team regularly this campaign as he has now become one of the manager's main forwards. He's started six of the 10 games scoring in one (Brighton) and assisting in another (Southampton).
I also find that he is more suited to our possession-based game than any of our other wingers as he keeps things simple while also mixing up his game by taking players on, cutting in and shooting and going down the line.
Unlike Garnacho, Rashford and Antony, Amad is also not selfish which is a BIG thing in my book. The other three wide forwards all think about getting the shot off rather than creating for the striker and team. This is one of the main reasons as to why our centre-forwards end up in a graveyard shift most games and why we struggle to create consistent clear-cut opportunities resulting in few chances at goal.
ten Hag is more in favor of him over his own man Antony, who is reported to be leaving the club. Read the Antony story here.
The Ivorian is also only 22-years-old so there is enough time for him to get better.
This one-year extension would be a good thing in my opinion as we need the winger/wide forward options. He is ill at the moment which is why he didn't go on interntaional duty but it doesn't appear to be anything serious.
Would you like to see Amad and Maguire stay for one more year?
Background Image: Amad in the Community Shield against Man City | Creator: David Rogers | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Goal