'We're starving for leaders!' - Ruben Amorim sends warning to Harry Maguire as Man Utd trigger one-year contract extension

Amorim confirmed that United have triggered the option to extend Maguire's contract, but also issued a stern warning to the former Leicester defender, as he looks for leadership within his group. The Red Devils are in a tailspin and currently sit 14th in the Premier League table; they have won just one of their last five games and sit just seven points clear of the relegation zone. They are 13 behind fourth-placed Chelsea and Amorim has previously aired his own concern that they could be sucked into a relegation battle.

Maguire has captained United regularly, doing so most recently when Bruno Fernandes was absent through suspension, and the England international has now been urged to maximise his own experience on the pitch. At the age of 31, he had fallen down the pecking order, and was limited to just 18 league starts last season, but he now looks set to be reintegrated into Amorim's back-three formation. The manager has also confirmed that Amad Diallo is close to extending his own deal.

Amorim told reporters: "Amad is near, Harry Maguire we are going to trigger our option. I spoke with him [Harry] this morning and I told him he has to improve on the pitch, we need him a lot. Also, he has to improve as a leader. We all know the situation that he had here but we need him a lot in this moment, so we are going to trigger, happily, the option for him."

He added: "When you look at our team we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader, he has to improve that part, he has to improve his game, so we are happy to continue."

United face a titanic task this weekend as they play Arne Slot's high-flying Liverpool. The Reds are top of the Premier League and sit six points clear of second-placed Arsenal.