Manchester United's out of contract players, who to keep, who to sell?

As Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United Reign enters its 3^rd year, no fewer than 11 players are out of contract at the end of the season. The eleven players are: David de Gea     Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Andreas Pereira.

David De Gea, has been at Manchester united since the summer of 2011, and has won the Epl, the FA cup, The League Cup and the Uefa Europa League. On an individual note he has won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award 4 times. De Gea has a clause for an extra year in his contract. The club have commenced talks with De Gea over a new deal, which will see him emerge as one of the highest paid players at the club.

Anthony Martial, like De Gea he has the option of a further year in his contract. Martial appears to have a frosty relationship with Jose Mourinho and has been left out of games at times this season. The club though remain confident that Martial will pen a new deal. 

Juan Mata is in the final year of his contract and his doesn’t have an option for a further term. Come January 2019 the 30yr old will be free to enter into negotiations with overseas clubs.

Another Spaniard Ander Herrera’s contract expires at the end of the season and like Mata he has no option for a further term. It is understood that Herrera wants to continue his stay at United and due to Mourinho’s Fondness of him, will be offered a new deal.

Phil Jones future at Manchester United is unclear to say the least. He has struggled for playing time, this season. He is one player who looks like hes in the last chance saloon. It was no secret that Man United where on the lookout for a centre back in the summer transfer window, so it remains to be seen if the united hierarchy and Mourinho feel he should be offered a new deal.

Chris Smalling has been one of the better performers for Manchester United this season.  Like jones he doesn’t have the option for a further term. But from reports it seems the club will offer him fresh terms. He has been a regular for the team this season. But he will be weary of the club planning to strengthen their centre back position.

Luke Shaw is one of the players whose current deal expires at the end of the season and doesn’t have an option for a further term. The 23 year old has made an impressive start to the season and has been one of the clubs best players. He was voted player of the month for August and September by Man United supporters. It has been widely reported that Shaw is close to agreeing a new deal that will see him earn about £150,000 pounds per week.

Matteo Darmian: The Italian looked certain to leave the club last summer and has not played a minute of football this season since the opening-day win against Leicester back in August. He is one of the players with a year extension possible so you would expect the club to trigger that in order to recoup some of the money they paid for him in 2015. But it's hard to imagine the club would be interested in giving him fresh terms.

 Antonio Valencia is another player with the option for a further term. There has been a lot of speculation about Valencia’s future. Reports claim united risk losing their captain for free because he is out of contract at the end of the season, which is correct. However, United have until March to trigger the clause which would keep him under contract until summer 2020.

Ashley Young, had his one year extension triggered in March this year which means, like Jones, his contract expires this summer. Shaw's pushed him out of the team at left-back due to his impressive start to the season but it seems Mourinho clearly still values the 33-year-old who has been selected at right-back ahead of Valencia at times this season. In a similar situation to Jones and Smalling, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club offer him a new deal despite his age. Ashley Young has spent seven years at United and currently has a rolling contract, which is renewed based on the 33-year-old's performances.

Andreas Pereira: The 22-year-old started the season for Mourinho but hasn't started a game since the dismal defeat to Brighton. He's shown glimpses of his talent though and it would be a surprise if United let him go, especially on a free. The option for a further term is there on his contract but both parties have to agree to it. While the other one-year extensions for the other players were are all in the club's hands, Pereira has a say as to whether he agrees to another year.

It promises to be an interesting remainder of the season as the united hierarchy decide who to keep and who to sell as they squad reshapes itself under Jose Mourinho.