Man Utd news: Harry Maguire makes decision on £500k-a-week deal as defender suffers scare

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We may be in the midst of an international break but life is never dull at Manchester United . Since under-pressure head coach Ruben Amorim secured a crucial win over Sunderland to take United within six points of the Premier League summit, takeover talk has surprisingly resurfaced thanks to Saudi Arabia sports mogul Turki Al-Sheikh.

The chairman of the country’s General Entertainment Authority sparked speculation with a social media post regarding a possible investment. While it is believed the Glazers could consider a full sale for £5bn, club insiders were said to be taken aback by Al-Sheikh’s declaration.

The Middle East money magnet subsequently tried to clear things up with another post, which read: “My post about Manchester United’s potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor.

“Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I’m posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen.”

Thoughts will soon return to matters on the pitch and the not-so-small matter of a trip to Liverpool next Sunday, when Amorim will aim to secure back-to-back wins for the first time as United boss. But there is also one eye on the future, with defenders at the opposite ends of their careers in the spotlight...

Harry Maguire could reject a mega-money offer from Saudi Arabia to extend his United career. The defender, whose Old Trafford contract is up at the end of the season, has been linked with Al-Ettifaq and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, who are prepared to offer him in the region of £500,000 a week.

It’s an opportunity the 33-year-old has been seriously considering as he approaches the end of his career, given United have been cool on offering him a new deal. But the Red Devils are considering offering Maguire a final contract after all, with talks to take place over the next few weeks.

Maguire is said to be mindful that a move to Saudi would damage his chances of extending his England career after the World Cup, whether under Thomas Tuchel or another manager.

International breaks are always nervous times for clubs. It’s rare that the club’s contingent of internationals return unscathed.

Promising defender Ayden Heaven suffered a worrying knock in the early stages of England Under-20s’ game versus Switzerland on Friday. The 19-year-old needed lengthy treatment and although he continued, he was taken off at half as a precaution.

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To United’s relief, England U20s boss Ben Futcher does not believe the injury is too serious. He said: “He picked something up. I don't think it is too serious but we will have to see how it settles down.”

Heaven has been a regular on the bench for United this season and is expected to be involved in the Liverpool game.

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