Manchester United extend four player contracts by 12 months

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Manchester United have extended the contracts of four players, report BBC Sport.

The extensions are the one-year options in their current deals, meaning they now expire in June 2024.

The players concerned are; Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Fred, and Diogo Dalot.

All four players have been regulars in Erik ten Hag’s squads so far, with Dalot in particular starting almost every game.

Ten Hag told the club website earlier this month he wants to sign Rashford to a long term extension.

United extend four player contracts

When Erik ten Hag took over, he made the decision to shelve all contract talks with players, with the view they had to earn the right to be part of his side.

He has shown with this decision he wants to keep Rashford, Shaw, Fred and Dalot around for the immediate future.

Fred has the biggest question mark, with The Guardian reporting last month that Ten Hag was willing to let Fred walk away on a free transfer in 2023.

Dalot and Rashford in particular would have attracted admirers from foreign clubs in the upcoming transfer window.

It is important United get long term deals agreed, as next year, United won’t have the option to trigger, to stop them negotiating to walk away on free transfers.

United were right to approach this tentatively. In recent years the club have made unwise decisions on contracts, with Eric Bailly handed a three-year extension in 2021, and Phil Jones still under contract until June 2023.

But this whole time, United have been in control, and need it to stay this way. Rashford this week hit out at claims he could land a £400,000 per week offer, branding the speculation unhelpful to all parties.

David de Gea negotiations

United have declined to offer a one-year extension to goalkeeper David de Gea. This would involve paying him his high £375,000 per week wages.

Negotiations are underway, however, with a ‘reduced terms’ contract reported to have been floated by the club.

As it stands, De Gea would be free to negotiate with foreign clubs with January, but has always insisted his desire is to stay at Old Trafford.

His all round game has improved under Erik ten Hag, but the manager could decide to have a total reset with a goalkeeper of his choosing brought in next summer.