Manchester United transfer news: Ed Woodward turns attention to contract negotiations with NINE players out of contract next summer
Negotiations will have to begin shortly in order to keep numerous, pivotal, United players who have just a year left on their contract
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MANCHESTER UNITED have already made three summer signings but they will soon have to begin the negotiation process to extended player's contracts who expire next summer.
Bringing Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic on board set the club back more than £150m, but they will have to continue to splash the cash in order to retain many first team players next year.
Many of Mourinho's first choice players will have to begin negotiations with the club if they are to stay after their contract expires, six of them are midfield players.
The club's executive vice chairman, Ed Woodward, has been occupied with negotiating the return of Swedish sensation Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but has nine players he will need to hash out an agreement with as they enter the last year of their contracts.
When Woodward took on the role in 2012 he introduced an additional year clause in contracts, which is likely to be put to good use for several of the nine players out of contract.
Ander Herrera made 31 appearances last year for the club and is likely to be one of the nine that has the clause triggered to extend his contract, he has been described as a 'Jose Mourinho player'.
Another Spaniard likely to have his contract extended is Juan Mata who has started both games this season and scored six times for the Red Devils in 2016/17.
Ex-Everton player Marouane Fellaini has been a popular choice for Mourinho and is likely to have an extension added to his contract, which has just ten months left to run.
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Romelu Lukaku has started like a runaway train at Man United and is down to just 2/1 to finish the year as top scorer.
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Defender Luke Shaw has experienced a tumultuous relationship with Mourinho and was only selected eleven times last season.
He has enjoyed a stint at U23 level while returning to match fitness, following an injury, but has declared himself match ready for what could be his final season.
Similarly, Ashley Young has also been playing for the U23 squad while recovering from injury and was eyed up by several other clubs this summer before the injury.
Dutchman Daley Blind has made appearances in both games this season and is reportedly not feeling the same level of pressure as Shaw, despite appearing just 23 times for Red Devils last season.
Captain Michael Carrick is now 36 and is reportedly spending his final year at Old Trafford, which is also likely to be the case for fellow midfielder Andreas Pereira.
With David de Gea continuing to dominate the goalkeeper position, Sam Johnstone has been sent out on loan for a tenth time.
The 24-year-old is desperately seeking first-team football, so may well make a permanent move to another club to secure it.
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Woodward is already preparing for the process of renegotiating contracts, the Manchester Evening News reports, despite this year's deadline day still almost a week away.
Manchester United have just under a week to find any additional players, but Mourinho told Woodward that he had originally earmarked four new signings, but is pleased with three and isn't in a rush to sign an additional player.
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Players with one year left on their contract:
Daley Blind
Michael Carrick
Marouane Fellaini
Ander Herrera
Sam Johnstone
Juan Mata
Andreas Pereira
Luke Shaw
Ashley Young