Should Harry Maguire be offered a new deal? We asked Wes Brown

Old Trafford’s corridors are buzzing with one question this week: does Harry Maguire deserve a fresh contract when his current deal expires in June? To find an answer, The Peoples Person turned to a man who lifted five Premier League trophies in United red—Wes Brown. Speaking exclusively via Betwright, the former centre-back left no doubt about where his loyalties lie.

“I love Harry,” Brown said, smiling. “If Michael stays on, then Harry is your guy.”

The 44-year-old acknowledged the fierce competition at right centre-back, with Matthijs de Ligt sidelined by injury and teenage prodigy Leny Yoro already turning heads. “Yoro, for me, will be a fantastic centre-back, and he is now,” Brown noted. “But Harry is at the pinnacle of his career. He knows exactly what he’s doing, he’s been doing this for many years. He understands the game.”

Brown reserved special praise for Maguire’s mental fortitude after an 18-month barrage of fan criticism. “The character to come back from that and still perform how he’s performing now—absolutely exceptional,” he said, reminding listeners that the England international had spent a lengthy spell out of the side before forcing his way back into the XI.

Should United hesitate, Brown believes Maguire would have no shortage of suitors. “I’d say to Harry he’d have no problem getting another club if that was the case. But I would love to see Harry there. I want to see them all there battling it out.”

The conversation inevitably shifted to pace, long perceived as Maguire’s Achilles heel. Brown dismissed the critique with the authority of a defender who faced the league’s fastest wingers for a decade. “Everyone talks about the pace,” he shrugged. “When that ball gets played down the side, he’s probably not going to get there first, but he’s smart enough to not get himself in that position. Defending is not just about that—it’s about reading the game, the timing of stuff, getting in the right position before the other person does. He wins everything in the air, he’s good on the ball, and he and Martínez, at the moment, are really showing that.”

With De Ligt nearing fitness and Erik ten Hag’s options swelling, Brown advocates a meritocratic approach: “If you’re playing well, you should stay in the team.” Yet he insists Maguire’s experience and resurgence warrant a seat at the table—starting with a new contract.

The final decision rests with the club hierarchy, but Brown’s verdict is unequivocal: keep the warrior who battled back from the brink and is now marshalling United’s defence with renewed authority.