Man Utd set for major overhaul with Herrera, Mata and Jones among SEVEN stars out of contract in summer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has some decisions to make in the coming months as a host of stars prepare to leave for nothing
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THE summer of 2019 is guaranteed to be a summer of change at Old Trafford.
A new permanent manager will be appointed to replace Jose Mourinho - although at this rate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be given the role by mid-February - after the Special One was sacked last month.
And the club is likely to see an overhaul in the playing staff, too, with a host of players now into the final six months of their contracts.
Crucially David De Gea and Anthony Martial extended their deals beyond the end of this season meaning two of United’s most valuable assets will not be leaving for nothing this summer.
Here is SunSports’s verdict on their situation and what could come next for the Red Devils players approaching the end of their deals this summer.
Ander Herrera
HERRERA may not be the flashiest or most stylish footballer at Old Trafford - yes, we know it’s you Paul - but he certainly still has real value.
The Spanish midfielder joined the club in 2014 but never established himself as a regular starter.
But in recent weeks, both under Mourinho and now Solskjaer, Herrera is showing his worth - a goal and two assists under the Norwegian have done no harm.
He has been linked with a return to Atheltico Bilbao while SunSport understands United would accept a cut-price fee.
SunSport says: United need to get Herrera tied down to a new contract. He is far too important to be allowed to let go for free come the summer.
Juan Mata
ANOTHER Spanish midfielder who many would argue has not fulfilled his true potential especially at Old Trafford.
Whether that was due to the management he worked under is plausible but there is no denying Mata’s technical ability.
He is arguably the best passer at Manchester United and their only true No10.
Still aged 30, Mata would be a real loss if someone came in for him this January and offered him a pre-contract agreement.
Talks have been held but as of yet, no dotted lines have been signed.
SunSport says: Mata is a unique player in the Manchester United dressing room and offers something very few others can so it would be unwise to let him leave.
But Mata deserves to be appreciated and he deserves game time so who could blame him if he did want to move on?
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Matteo Darmian
UNFORTUNATELY for Darmian, his Manchester United career has been a disappointment and he is firmly in the bracket with the Da Silva twins.
Signed on a four-year contract from Torino in 2015, he has seemingly only been used to fill gaps when others are unavailable.
This season he has made just four appearances across all competitions and is surely on his way out of Manchester United.
Inter Milan and Lazio are reportedly set to battle it out to sign the defender this month and offer him an escape route back to Italy.
SunSport says: Darmian has done a fair job of essentially being a back-up full-back for four years but will not go down as a Manchester United great, that’s for sure.
Time is up for him at Old Trafford and now it is just a case of whether he moves this month or for free in the summer.
Andreas Pereira
PEREIRA'S situation is a slightly odd one. He seems to have been coming through the ranks at Man United for years and years and suddenly he is 23 and still not established in the first team by any stretch.
Undoubtedly a talented player, Pereira will no doubt carve out a fine career.
But whether that career will be at Old Trafford remains unclear and is becoming increasingly unlikely.
Arsenal and West Ham have been linked with a move while Brazilian side Santos could be another option, along with Valencia.
He has played just 277 minutes of football this season, 90 of which came on the opening day against Leicester, and does not appear to be close to moving up the pecking order, unless Mata leaves.
SunSport says: Has never really had his chance but is at real risk of wasting his career unless he moves soon, even if it is on loan for the remainder of the season to earn himself a summer move.
Could prove to be a real talent but will not do so without regular minutes.
Antonio Valencia
A DECADE is a long time in football but that is how long Antonio Valencia has been a Man United player.
That is some achievement in itself. Six major trophies and 324 Premier League appearances later, his United career may be nearing its conclusion.
Out of the team with a calf injury and out of favour after his spat with Jose Mourinho, it looked certain to be over either in January or the summer.
But Solskjaer brought him back in against Newcastle, handed him the captain’s armband and helped United keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory.
At 33 and with a history of injuries, he is certainly not the attacking threat he has been in previous seasons but his experience around the dressing room in a season of change could be crucial.
SunSport understands West Ham may make a move to bring him in for free next summer if he does not sign a new deal.
But there is also talk Valencia's been offered to Inter Milan on a free...
SunSport says: Man United have a ready-made replacement in Diogo Dalot to succeed Valencia at right-back but his wealth of experience during a turbulent time warrant an additional year at Old Trafford.
Ashley Young
ANOTHER of the veteran players still proving to have something left to offer at Man United, Ashley young has seen his career resurrected in recent years.
So much so that he made 30 Premier League appearances last season - his most since he was at Aston Villa - and was the first-choice left-back for England at last summer’s World Cup.
He became Mr Reliable for Mourinho, who did not fancy Luke Shaw. And this season he has been trusted with the captain’s armband 15 times by the two managers.
It appears Young is still very much in the plans for the Red Devils.
He would be prepared to take a pay cut to remain at the club, but fans seem more than happy to see him leave.
Italian giants Roma and Inter Milan have both been linked with the winger-turn-full-back in the past few weeks.
Roma are considering a January bid while Inter would try and secure a deal for Young to join for free in the summer.
SunSport says: Two or three years ago, Young’s days at Old Trafford looked numbered. Now, he is enjoying some of his best football.
Dalot and Shaw should be the full-backs next season but letting Young leave when he still has plenty to offer could prove a mistake, especially if Darmian and Valencia go.
Phil Jones
JONES' United career was epitomised in a five-second spell during Manchester United’s win at Newcastle on Wednesday.
Under pressure from Ayoze Perez, he stumbled his way towards his own goal before gifting the ball to Salomon Rondon.
But then showed a quick turn of pace and produced a stunning, last-ditch sliding tackle to deny the Toon striker.
Now in his eighth season at Old Trafford, Jones has continually put a string of good games together and then done something which makes fans realise why he will never be the next Nemanja Vidic.
This season, Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof have been the first-choice pairing with Jones, Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo’s minutes limited.
But since Soljskjaer has come in, Jones has been given a chance again.
Unlike the rest of the players coming towards the end of their contract, there is very little noise surrounding an extension or a move away.
SunSport says: If - and it is a big IF - Jones can performing alongside Lindelof, he may well earn himself a new deal.
But he has overstayed his welcome at Old Trafford now and as they undoubtedly sign a big-name centre-back in the summer, Jones is the likely victim, especially after Smalling’s new deal.