Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has hinted the club plans to exercise contract extension options for five of their squad members whose deals run out at the end of this campaign.
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One of the high-profile players on the list is Marcus Rashford, who has caught the eye of Paris Saint-Germain. The French club have been tipped to make him an eye-watering contract offer in order to tempt him to the club, but United are keen to keep the England star.
Rashford isn’t the only one set for an extended stay according to Ten Hag’s words. David de Gea also looks set to stay at Old Trafford, as do Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Fred.
“We are talking with them to extend their contracts but we are in control because on all the players we have options and we will exercise these options,” Ten Hag said.
The former Ajax head coach was then asked about De Gea specifically, replying: “Like I say, we have options and we will do them.
Ten Hag was also asked whether United are vulnerable due to the contract situation over their first team players, as reported by the Manchester Evening News. “You can see it this way but if the decision is not that good we have other options.” he said.
The named quintet aren’t the only stars who could leave in the summer. Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones are also out of contract, both players have barely played over the last 12 months, while there is still a question mark over whether United will exercise their option to sign the on-loan goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Rashford had a tough 2021-22 season, with the Red Devils rushing him back from surgery after the European Championships. After finding form under Ten Hag, though, he returned to the England squad for the World Cup and attracted interest from PSG.
“To have Rashford for free, every club would definitely run after him. We’re not hiding it, we spoke before and there was interest,” the French club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.
“But the moment was not a good moment for both sides. Maybe summer, why not? Today, if he’s a free agent, of course we can talk to him directly but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then after, in January, hopefully, if we’re interested we will talk to him.”
