Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 6y

Ashley Young keen to start new contract talks with Man Utd - sources

MANCHESTER -- Ashley Young wants to open talks with Manchester United over a new long-term contract, sources have told ESPN FC.

The 32-year-old is in the final year of his current deal, although United hold an option to extend it by another year which would keep him at the club until 2019.

United are keen to trigger the option before discussing terms of a new contract next season, but sources have told ESPN FC that Young, who has established himself as Jose Mourinho's first-choice left-back, would like to bring talks forward.

Young, who arrived from Aston Villa in 2011, is keen to capitalise on his fine form this season and sign a three-year deal that could keep him at Old Trafford for the rest of his career.

United, however, often prefer to hand players in their 30s year-on-year renewals.

Michael Carrick, who turned 36 in the summer, has signed one-year deals for the past two seasons.

Young has started United's last 11 games in the Premier League. He was rested for Tuesday night's 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow in preparation for Sunday's top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City at Old Trafford.

His form earned him a recall to the England squad for friendlies against Germany and Brazil last month and he could be part of Gareth Southgate's 23-man party for next summer's World Cup in Russia.

Young is the latest solution to Mourinho's left-back problem. The United manager has tried Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo in the role before settling on Young this season.

Shaw impressed on his return to the team against CSKA, earning praise from Mourinho in the process, but it has not stopped United from being linked with a move for Tottenham full-back Danny Rose.

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