Manchester United have a core of senior first-team players who will see their contracts expire at the end of the season.
For many of these players, the club has the option of activating a one-year extension clause.
Some of the players who find themselves in this situation include Marcus Rashford, David de Gea, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luke Shaw, Fred, Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones and Tom Heaton.
Axel Tuanzebe does not have a one-year extension option on his contract.
Laurie Whitwell, in a correspondence exercise conducted by The Athletic in which fans were allowed to ask questions about United, provided big updates on the future of these stars and the club’s plans for them.
Whitwell was asked by a fan about whose voice at Old Trafford would have the final say on contract extensions and who is leaving. Would this be Erik ten Hag, John Murtough, or even someone higher up the food chain?
On this, Whitwell responded: “The decision needs to be collaborative, with Ten Hag providing guidance from a selection perspective and Murtough taking a longer-term view.”
He pointed to the Red Devils’ past mistakes of keeping a player unwanted by the manager to preserve his transfer value, only for the player to walk away for free or next to nothing.
On the club’s unique practice of including one-year extension clauses in players’ contracts, “United’s strategy of including optional years in contracts is not shared in the industry. It provides a sense of flexibility, but most clubs agree to full-term deals. Some agents have raised concerns about the practice as it can create uncertainty as a player enters their senior year.”
The journalist revealed which players are almost certain to have their one-year extensions activated by the club.
“It makes sense for United to push the button on Rashford, Shaw, Fred and Dalot because each one is contributing to the team and should next season.”
“The same applies to De Gea too, even though he is the biggest earner behind Ronaldo because letting him go free doesn’t make sense when he starts every week. United could possibly try to renegotiate a reduced salary given De Gea’s age.”
“That would certainly provoke a player-to-club complaint.”
According to Whitwell, Jones, who was left out of the 20-time English champions’ Premier League squad today, will be allowed to leave. It is also unlikely that the club will make an intense effort to keep Ronaldo, who was actively looking to leave Old Trafford during the transfer window.
“So far, no one has been informed of United’s intentions in their contracts. Rashford and Dalot could expect negotiations on new terms to begin soon, followed by Fred and Shaw.”
Fans will expect player situations to be resolved quickly and decisively. 
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