Manchester United could be drawn into a legal battle to keep centre-back Harry Maguire, who has withdrawn interest from many clubs according to a report.
The disruptive defender signed a six-year deal when he arrived at Old Trafford for a breaking a record £80 million in the summer of 2019. The original contract also included an extension clause which United can trigger to keep Maguire in Manchester for another 12 months.
However, the club has not activated that measure. As he enters the final six months of his existing deal, Maguire will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign party from January 1, 2025 onwards.
According to Athletics. The report does not contain any suggestions as to what the solution to this hypothetical scenario would be, but mentions four clubs interested in the 31-year-old.
Series A Title challengers Napoli are noted as the most ardent admirers of Maguire's unique skills. Manager Antonio Conte has built a reputation for stockpiling former Premier League stars.
After guiding Inter to the Italian title with a team that included Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Ashley Young and Christian Eriksen, the former Chelsea manager added the Scottish duo of Billy Gilmour and former United midfielder Scott McTominay in the Napoli team during the summer.
Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce and Turkish rivals Galatasaray are also thought to be interested in Maguire.
Premier League Leicester City fighters could be lining up a reunion with their former player. Foxes boss Ruud van Nistelrooy spent the first half of the season at Manchester United with Maguire, initially as assistant to Erik ten Hag before a short temporary spell. While fond memories of his time at the King Power Stadium may be tempting for Maguire, relegation to the Premier League for Leicester would certainly complicate any deal.
Despite the strong potential for a midseason legal battle, revealed Maguire that talks over a new contract with United were “really positive” earlier this season.