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From £80m flop to summer 2026 must-have: How Man United u-turned a transfer mistake
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- From £80m flop to summer 2026 must-have: How Man United u-turned a transfer mistake
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Manchester United 's £80m transfer error could become a top priority in 2026
Manchester United have a long history of transfer window errors, and one of their most expensive moves, the £80 million deal for Harry Maguire , is quietly becoming an issue that will need addressing by the summer of 2026.
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By then, the club's biggest area of concern is expected to be midfield, though there could also be needs at full-back and out wide.
Ineos have already done enough to give fans some confidence heading into future windows. Still, not every decision will happen on the open market.
Their growing concern is closer to home, an internal matter involving a player who has managed to turn his situation around at Old Trafford.
Man Utd's £80m mistake has recovered admirably
Maguire's time at Old Trafford was close to ending in 2023, when Erik ten Hag stripped him of the captaincy and pushed him down the pecking order. His exit seemed inevitable after he lost his place under Ten Hag in 2022-23 and was then replaced as captain by Bruno Fernandes that summer.
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Maguire managed just eight league starts that season and rejected a move to West Ham . His recovery has been one of the more unexpected stories at United over recent seasons, featuring a string of steady performances and an impressive run with England during Euro 2024 qualifying.
Maguire is now entering his mid-30s. By then, he'll likely be past his prime even if he still holds some value as a depth option or leader. In other words, even if he hasn't fallen off yet physically by then, Manchester United should be preparing for him not being part of their main plans anymore. Preparing internally rather than externally would make sense.
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Harry Maguire's journey from £80m error to a vital player for Manchester United
If you had told United fans back in 2021 that they would be hoping for Harry Maguire to sign a new deal five years later, most of them wouldn't have believed you.
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The Glazer regime, led by the infamous Ed Woodward, got rinsed by Leicester for Harry Maguire, as United paid the full £80m fee up front.
Maguire did play well under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but soon became a lightning rod for criticism as the Norwegian's spell cratered.
There was a time when Maguire became unfairly painted as the symbol of incompetence at Old Trafford, and he was often close to leaving the club.
However, since that low phase, Maguire's mental fortitude has shone through as he fought back to relevance under multiple managers.
With his contract expiring in the summer of 2026, he is now staging his biggest comeback act as a part of Michael Carrick restoring the veteran spine of Man Utd.
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As it stands, Maguire is the first name on the teamsheet and is quickly taking Ineos' decision on his contract out of their hands. United don't feel solid enough without Maguire in their ranks.
Man Utd set to reward Maguire with contract extension
Harry Maguire has gone from representing everything wrong with the club's transfer policy to a player who is forcing Ineos to break their transfer policy. Ineos don't like giving big extensions to older players, especially not ones on big wages like Maguire.
But he was never reliant on speed and power, which are usually the first things to go. Instead, it's always been about his understanding of the game – something that only gets better with time.
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Maguire has shown he can still deliver, and extending his contract looks set to be one of United's first moves in 2026. He had already proven this, but was now getting rewarded for it. One of Woodward's worst-ever deals was now starting to pay off thanks to Maguire himself.
From an £80m mistake to an extension priority, Maguire might well spend a decade at this club now – and for good reason.
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