Manchester United are sweating over the future of Marouane Fellaini as he holds out for a better contract offer just months before he is free to start negotiating with a new club.
The Belgium international is enjoying a fine start to the season after being given more of a key role under Jose Mourinho, and is not a player the club would want to lose on a free.
However, Fellaini’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season, with interest from Italian and Turkish clubs already said to be growing.
Fellaini hasn’t always been a regular starter at Old Trafford since his 2013 move from Everton, but has grown in stature since Mourinho’s appointment, earning particular praise for his hard-working displays in recent games.
Talks are reportedly ongoing between the club and the player, but Fellaini is understood to be unsatisfied with United’s current offer, according to the Daily Mail.
The 29-year-old may feel he deserves to be in a higher pay bracket due to arguably performing as important a role as top-earner Paul Pogba in midfield so far this season.
Manchester United 2018/19 Fixtures
Fulham (A) - Feb 9
PSG (H) - Feb 12
Chelsea (A) - Feb 18
Liverpool (H) - Feb 24
Crystal Palace (A) - Feb 27
Southampton (H) - Mar 2
It could also be that Fellaini is concerned about the length of the deal on offer, with United known to be cautious about offering lengthy extensions to players over 30.
Fellaini will be 31 next season and perhaps won’t be seen as irreplaceable, despite manager Mourinho clearly being a big fan of his.
The Red Devils also have big names like Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick as options in that central midfield area at the moment.
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