Tam Courts has admitted trying to keep Dylan Levitt in tangerine for next season is a top priority for Dundee United.
The on-loan Manchester United midfielder has really shone for United and has been a big player in them sealing the top six and trying to hunt down a European place.
The Welsh international is out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of the season and is waiting for his parent club to decide whether or not he has a future there.
The other United would love to bring Levitt back to Tannadice for next season, whether that be on another loan or a permanent basis.
Sporting director Tony Asghar is in talks with United and is waiting to see what pans out although they know there will be stiff competition for his signature.
Head coach Courts admitted: “You can see why the Dundee United fans rate Dylan.
“You only have to look at the big moments he has in a United shirt.
“The stats tell you when Dylan is in the team you have a higher chance of performing well and winning.
“He seems really content at home at the club and he is stepping up at a crucial stage in the season.
“That is something Tony Asghar is seeing as a priority.
“I wouldn’t say there have been regular discussions but there have certainly been discussions happening.
“We would want to keep Dylan if it was possible and to build a team around him.
“Hopefully, that is something we can make a reality but at the same token you realise the potential he has.
“He is in a privileged position where he will have a good number of clubs wanting to sign him this summer.
“He also values what he has got with us highly and we bring out all the qualities he has in the way we want to play football.”
United want to keep Levitt and are also confident American midfielder Ian Harkes will sign a new deal.
Kevin McDonald is another in that area who is out of contract in the summer.
United gave the former Scottish international a short-term deal to prove his fitness after his well-documented kidney transplant.
Courts plans to hold talks with McDonald after their European push is decided.
Courts explained: “It will be interesting to speak to Kevin at the appropriate time.
“It was well-documented about his illness, to prove he could be a footballer again and play at the top level.
“He has ticked all those boxes. “
It will be good to sit down with him mentally and physically and also to find out his own ambitions going forward.
“At this moment in time, it is all hands to the pump.
“We are just trying to win as many points as possible. “I am looking forward to having that conversation with Kevin because it has been good to have been part of his story coming back from his illness.”
United face Rangers on Sunday and Courts has praised them for flying the flag for Scottish football and getting to the Europa League semi-final against Red Bull Leipzig, who they face in tonight’s Ibrox second leg tonight.
Courts admitted: “They have a huge match on Thursday.
“The last time we played them it was on the back of beating Dortmund and fast-forward and it is now Leipzig.
"They are doing a tremendous job in this European run.
“You want to see every Scottish team do well and it will be interesting to see how Thursday goes.
“The coefficient has been a lot better and that has shown with the Premiership winners now going into the group stages of the Champions League.
“It tells us that there has been some decent work from the teams in Europe in recent seasons.”
