David De Gea, Luke Shaw, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Ashley Young all have under a year on their contracts at Manchester United, but Jose Mourinho wants them to stay longer.
De Gea would be the biggest name to exit, but with Real Madrid having signed Thibaut Courtois, Manchester United are confident the Spanish shot-stopper will stay with them.
All four players are free to negotiate free transfers come January, should the ‘Red Devils’ opt not to extend the contracts, but it is likely that this option will not be taken.
“I hope they will stay,” said Mourinho. “We had a similar conversation last season about Marouane Fellaini and I was always saying, ‘I hope he stays, I believe he will stay,’ and I say the same thing – I hope they stay.
“I’m happy with the players, David [De Gea] is David, no need for more words. Luke Shaw’s evolution makes us believe that he is going in the right direction – I want to keep him.
“Juan Mata and Ander Herrera, even if they are not playing a lot or if they are not starting matches, by the character point of view and by what they represent in the modern society in football they are almost unique pieces that I also don’t want to lose.”