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Manchester United had a horrendous start to their 2018-19 campaign with the then manager constant moaning about the lack of transfers, made the club a laughing stock in the footballing world. After a somewhat successful first campaign under the Portuguese, the Champions League tie against Sevilla last season was the start of the downfall for Mourinho.
Eventually, he got sacked after a dismal show against Liverpool in December which opened the door for former player and club legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to take responsibility of helping the club finish in the top four at the end of the campaign.
Ole had a dream start as the caretaker manager as United won by five goals against his former club Cardiff. That unbeaten run continued as the Red Devils have climbed up to fifth in the table and still searching for a trophy with the FA Cup and the Champions League being two feasible options.
Under Jose, not only the fans but few players seemed to grow frustrated with the likes of Martial, Pogba wanting to move elsewhere to revive their career. However, Ole's appointment has bought a new lease of life among the players with Martial committing a long term future to the club. This deal could be the starting point of contract negotiations with some other players who are yet to pen-down a new deal with the club.
Hence, without further ado, let's look at the three players who could sign a new long term contract in the upcoming days.
#3 Juan Mata
Mata was the marquee signing for United under David Moyes and instantly became the creative soul of the squad. At the time, the former Premier League Champions lacked depth and guile in their play which the Spaniard bought after he was sold from Chelsea by Jose Mourinho.
Though he has been criticized often for his lack of pace, Mata makes up for it with his vision and passing ability. At United, Juan spent most of his time playing as a right-winger rather than a number ten which is his ideal position. Still, he has put in the shift whenever called upon and scored some crucial match-winning goals for the Red Devils.
Moreover, Juan is a fan favorite who keeps in touch with the supporters through his blog. His current contract runs till June 2019, and the club would hope he signs a new long term deal before that. Mata has been a loyal servant to the club since 2014 and still has a crucial role to play in United's future aspirations.
#2 Ander Herrera
The former Athletic Bilbao player signed for Manchester United in 2014 at €36 million under the then manager, Louis Van Gaal. Since then, he won several accolades which include the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the UEFA Europa League. He was also the club's Player of the Year in the 2016-17 season.
Despite all the trophies and individual awards, Ander's position has never been stable at United. Last season, he was inconsistent in his performances and found himself on the sidelines on most occasions.
The Spaniard is not that sort of player who could play a 30 yards diagonal pass or get involved in a physical midfield battle with any opposition. However, what Herrera brings is maturity and discipline at the center of the park which is an essential asset for any midfielder.
Under Ole, Herrera has become a critical part of the team who has partnered Matic to form a formidable midfield partnership. It has helped Paul Pogba tremendously who can now focus more on the attacking part of United's play. Like Mata, Ander's contract also runs out on June 2019 and given his reliability; it seems inevitable that United would wrap up a new deal soon.
#1 David De Gea
David De Gea was a skinny kid when he signed for United in 2011 replacing the legendary, Edwin Van Der Sar. United had some great goalkeepers over the years, and there was a massive responsibility on David's shoulders to carry the legacy forward.
The Spaniard struggled in his initial days at Old Trafford, but with time he settled down and became an irreplaceable part of the team. He is the recipient of Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award on three successive years which was a first in the club's history. As time passed by, David turned himself into a beast who made saves out of nowhere. His agility and reflexes coupled up with his positioning have bailed the team out on numerous occasions.
Being a Spaniard, there is always a rush to play for Barcelona or Real Madrid, and David was on the verge of signing for Real until a last-minute transfer breakdown saw him stay back at Old Trafford. In recent times, rumors circulated of him being unhappy under Jose Mourinho and wanted to move elsewhere in search of trophies.
However, the appointment of Solskjaer has changed the mood around the club with David being urged by the manager and the fans to sign a new long term contract with his current deal running out on 30th June 2019.
