Manchester United could offer star duo new contracts on reduced wages
Man Utd have decisions to make regarding two players who are out of contract at the end of the season.
Manchester United will consider offering new contracts to star duo Casemiro and Harry Maguire but would want to include wage reductions for the two high earners.
The experienced pair are both out of contract at the end of the season and would be allowed to negotiate with overseas clubs from January if no resolution is found before then. If they do not agree new contracts, they would both become available as free agent signings from next summer.
United have the option to trigger an additional year in the contract of Casemiro, though doing so would mean the 33-year-old would remain on his current wage for another full season. The Brazilian is believed to be United's current highest-earner on a rumoured weekly wage of £350,000, though it is understood he would have taken a wage cut after their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
It is a different situation with former club captain Maguire, who had the optional additional year in his deal triggered at the start of the year. The 32-year-old would have to sign a new contract to remain at the club beyond this campaign, though United have no intention to offer an improvement on his rumoured £190,000-a-week salary.
Casemiro and Maguire are both important players under Ruben Amorim, not only due to their vast experience, but their recent level of performance. Although there were doubts over each of the pair, they have shown huge professionalism to win back their places in the starting line up under the Portuguese head coach.
Ineos have made it their mission to reduce the wage bill at Old Trafford and have worked to introduce a competitive wage structure throughout the first-team squad. Barcelona have agreed to pay the entirety of Marcus Rashford's wages during his season-long loan, while David de Gea and Raphael Varane both left the club as free agents upon expiry of their respective deals.
Tyrell Malacia is also out of contract at the end of the current campaign, though United have the option to extend his deal by an additional year. It is unclear whether they will trigger that clause after he was frozen out in the summer and deemed surplus to requirements before his recent reintegration.
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