Nemanja Matic seeking talks on his future as likely summer exit approaches

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The main reason Manchester United need to sign a defensive midfielder this summer is because the squad’s current one is no longer up to scratch.

Nemanja Matic is now 33 and has only started eight Premier League games this season. The last of these came in the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa in which he started well, before being overrun as the match went on.

Even though he has missed the last two matches with a shin injury, the likelihood is he would not have been selected anyway.

The Mirror report Matic plans to hold talks over his future, with increasing doubts over his future.

Time to move on

Matic has probably got the hint already. He is not likely to be part of Manchester United’s plans next season.

But quite rightly, he wants to approach the situation in a professional manner and seek clarification through direct communication with the club.

Matic will want to know for certain whether he will be kept around, into the final year of his contract which runs until 2023.

This is important not only from a football perspective, but a lifestyle one too. He will likely have to uproot and move abroad, and will want to be prepared.

Matic will want to instruct his agent to start looking for potential clubs, and would rather do so with the club’s blessing, rather than going behind their backs, as others might.

The situation is made more difficult by Manchester United not having a manager in place until the summer.

United’s board may defer a decision to the new boss, unless Matic expresses a strong desire to leave.

Interim boss Ralf Rangnick is likely to make his own recommendation, and his selection decision is fairly consistent with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s, Matic is no longer a regular starter.

The Serbian’s best days are behind him and United need a younger, more dynamic player like the one he was at his peak.

United should be quite far along in identifying potential replacements, and depending on how confident the club are of acquiring them, may fasten the decision to let Matic leave.

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