Blind has not started any of United’s last 11 Premier League matches (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United defender Daley Blind fears his Old Trafford career is about to end despite the club preparing to trigger a contract extension, according to reports.

The Dutchman, a £14m signing by former manager Louis van Gaal in 2014, has only been used as a squad player by Jose Mourinho since he took charge of the club.

This season, Blind has started just three Premier League matches, though he has played every minute of United’s Champions League campaign, generally performing well.

United will only trigger Blind’s contract extension so they can preserve his value (Picture: Getty)

But The Times report that Blind believes he will be sold by United next summer, who will trigger the one-year option they have on his contract, which would then expire in 2019.

Far from trying to tie the Netherlands international down, United are simply hoping to preserve Blind’s value rather than lose him for nothing.

His current deal expires next summer, and he would be allowed to begin negotiating a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January onwards.

United are keen to prevent that from happening, and are likely to trigger similar clauses in the contracts of Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young; though no such option exists in Marouane Fellaini’s contract.

Ashley Young celebrates his goa
Young’s brilliant form at left-back has sidelined Blind in recent months (Picture: Getty)

Inter Milan showed interest in signing Blind during the most recent transfer window and are expected to reignite their interest again next summer.

Blind is well thought of by the United staff and players, though the form of Young since moving to left-back – he scored twice against Watford in the week – has seen the Dutchman snubbed from the starting XI for the last 11 league matches.