Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has hinted the club plans to exercise contract extension options for all five of their squad members whose deals run out at the end of this season.
One of the more high-profile players on the list is Marcus Rashford, who has caught the eye of Paris Saint-Germain. The French champions have been tipped to make Rashford an eye-watering contract offer in a bid to tempt him to the Parc des Princes, but United are keen to keep the England star on board.
Rashford isn't the only one set for an extended stay if Ten Hag's words are to be believed. David de Gea also looks set to stick around 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 boss 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 teamers, 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 players who could leave in the summer. Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones are also out of contract, but the out-of-favour pair have barely featured over the last 12 months, while there is still a question mark over whether United will exercise their option to buy the on-loan goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
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Rashford had a difficult 2021-22 season, with United rushing him back from surgery after the European Championships. After finding form under Ten Hag, though, he returned to the England set-up 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.”
As well as the potential extensions, United have been linked with a number of potential additions to their squad. A new forward may end up being the main priority, with Cristiano Ronaldo having left in November, but there has also been talk of reinforcements in goal with Switzerland international Yann Sommer remaining a target.
