Mata and Herrera new contracts: According to reports, Jose Mourinho is pushing the board to offer new deals for the two midfielders.
Manchester United didn’t make the best of starts in the Premier League this season. The club is currently 8th in the league with 13 points. Moreover, Jose Mourinho’s side conceded losses to Brighton and West Ham in the league, and lower-league side Derby County in their first match of Carabao Cup.
The season was further marred with controversy, as midfielder Paul Pogba has overtly criticized the manager’s tactics in post-match interviews. After the defeat to Derby County, Mourinho and Pogba were caught arguing during a training session.
Goals have dried up for the club, as United has a goal difference of -1 in the league. Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford have missed significant chances in front of the goal this season.
Jose Mourinho is also facing issues with his defence. Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof have been underwhelming this season so far, and the manager has even tried Scott McTominay, and for the second half against Newcastle, Paul Pogba in central defence.
While Manchester United will reportedly be in the transfer market for defenders, Mourinho is also wary of the contract situation of current players. According to Standard, he has pushed the United board to offer new contracts to two of his star players.
Mata and Herrera new contracts:
According to Evening Standard, Mourinho is determined to keep Juan Mata and Ander Herrera at Old Trafford. The contract of both the star players expires at the end of the season.
Jose Mourinho wants to keep Ander Herrera and Juan Mata @ManUtd “Even if they are not playing a lot, not starting matches, by the personality and character point-of-view and what they represent in the modern society in football, they are almost unique pieces I don’t want to lose”
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) September 14, 2018
Mourinho believes that both the players are important to the club, and values their roles on and off the pitch. According to Standard, the Spanish midfielders have been harmonizing figures inside the squad at a time when players and managers share a strained relationship.
Jose Mourinho has told Ed Woodward that he wants to keep Juan Mata and Ander Herrera, with both players considered positive influences in the dressing room. #mufc [Standard]
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) October 16, 2018
The manager also values Mata for the technicality and creativity he offers on the pitch. Ander Herrera’s versatility on the pitch has also been praised by Mourinho at times.
In the past, Mourinho had relentlessly pushed the board to offer Marouane Fellaini a new contract at the club.
Manchester United are in negotiations with David De Gea, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young and Juan Mata and are hopeful terms will be agreed soon. (Source: ESPN) pic.twitter.com/EW38U6aijg
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 16, 2018
Manchester United board has started to take steps to address the player-contracts, and are reportedly set to offer new deals to Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial, with David De Gea next in line.
