Manchester United ready to activate one-year extension on Ander Herrera contract if they fail to agree new deal
- Manchester United are hopeful of agreeing fresh terms with Ander Herrera
- They retain the right to extend his contact by 12 months should talks drag on
- Negotiations with his representatives have been going on since last November
- United made a similar move to tie Marouane Fellaini to the club in January
Manchester United will activate the 12-month option on Ander Herrera’s contract if negotiations over a new deal continue to drag on.
United are hopeful that Herrera will agree terms, and the Spain midfielder is understood to be very keen to stay at Old Trafford.
But talks with his representatives have been going on since last November, and United are conscious that Herrera will be a free agent next summer and free to talk to foreign clubs in January.
Manchester United may activate a clause in Ander Herrera's contract to extend it by 12 months
That appears unlikely to happen with Herrera settled at the club and his representatives said to be ‘relaxed’ over the situation.
But United are ready to protect their investment just in case by triggering the one-year extension in the four-year contract Herrera signed with the club when he arrived from Athletic Bilbao in a £30million deal in the summer of 2014.
United made a similar move to tie Marouane Fellaini to the club for another 12 months in January. Talks are underway over a new deal but the Belgium midfielder’s representatives are understood to have rejected an opening offer.
Talks with Herrera's representatives over a new deal have dragged for almost an entire year
Although Herrera was United’s Player of the Year last season, his opportunities have been limited by the arrival of Nemanja Matic.
The 28-year-old had to wait a month of the new season before making his first Premier League start, but has returned to the line-up since Paul Pogba suffered a hamstring injury last month.
Herrera played alongside Matic again in Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Benfica that preserved United’s 100 per cent record in the Champions League and put Jose Mourinho’s side on the brink of qualifying for the knockout phase.
‘We have been solid, not only in the Champions League, but during the whole season,’ said Herrera. ‘We still have to improve of course, we have only played around 11 or12 games, but we are really solid and in a good moment.
‘We have nine points and are in the best position possible, so we are very happy. Now, we still have two games at home which are important for us. It’s another clean sheet and we conceded almost no chances which is not easy when you come to Portugal.
‘We have to play against Benfica at home now and I think, with 12 points, we will be qualified which is very important.’
Manchester United pulled a similar move with Marouane Fellaini's contract in January
United returned from Portugal with doubts over Marcus Rashford’s fitness for Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield.
Rashford claimed the only goal of the game after Benfica’s teenage keeper Mile Svilar carried his freekick over the line in the second half, but went off complaining of discomfort in his knee.
Phil Jones is expected to return against Huddersfield after sitting on the bench at the Estadio da Luz, but Eric Bailly is expected to miss out again.
Meanwhile, the first English players to sign up for the Common Goal initiative launched by United midfielder Juan Mata will be announced on Friday.
Turkey defender Hasan Ali Kaldirim became the 10th player to pledge at least one per cent of his earnings to the charitable cause on Thursday, but the addition of two Premier League names is being seen as a significant breakthrough for the foundation after Sportsmail revealed that no Englishmen had signed up to it.
The first English players to sign up for Common Goal launched by Juan Mata will be announced
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