'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As the season started under Jose Mourinho, it was very clear that there were a large number of players who were entering a crucial period where contractual negotiations had to take place. Several of these players have been in the club for a long time but there was a large debate as to whether some deserved an extension and even if they did, what ambition was being shown by the club while extending. Amidst the debate, cropped up popular names such as Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Andreas Pereira along with Chris Smalling.
In the recent weeks that have followed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United have been really persistent in trying to handle the contract situations and the administration has been severely working on it. While Chris Smalling's contract extension got a few grunts and Anthony Martial's extension got resounding applause, the latest extension of Phil Jones' contract has been met with vehement opposition and fury.
This has been followed after Ashley Young's extension faced a similar reaction. The extension is really peculiar, given Jones' injury record and his failure of cementing his place in the team on a consistent basis but there are logical reasons behind such an extension that usually gets undermined beneath the fury.
Here are three possible reasons behind United's strange contract extensions, especially when it concerns players such as Smalling, Jones and Young.
1) Squad Depth
There isn't a surprise when this justification is given time and again for such extension and if looked at logically to some extent, the reason stands true. Every top-six club, barring Arsenal and Spurs so far, boasts of the quality of depth and the two front runners of the Premier League this season, that is Manchester City and Liverpool, with their summer recruits, made it a point to highlight that squad depth matters immensely.
Manchester United have been in a period of constant transition and even after Jose Mourinho's reign, there are positions that need depth and filling. Phil Jones comparatively has been fitter this season and has got games under his belt. Ashley Young has been deployed constantly with faith on either of the full-back positions and Chris Smalling was a regular until he got injured.
Every top club needs depth due to the various tournaments the club will take part in and even if some of these players aren't world-class, they can still do the job under the right management or system. Squad depth helps the league run and to challenge for titles undoubtedly.
2) Homegrown Rule
The Homegrown player rule is an initiative of the English Premier League to allow for domestic players to be developed from an earlier age in the hope that they become homegrown talents with the right nurturing. In a maximum squad size of 25 players, the Premier League proposed 17 non-homegrown players so that basically instructs every team to have a possible 8 homegrown players.
Lee Grant, Andreas Pereira, Romelu Lukaku, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay and Jesse Lingard are ten Manchester United players who fall under this category out of which four United players (Smalling, Jones, Young and Pereira) faced imminent contract negotiations. Even if two depart, it brings United right on the brim of the homegrown rule which will raise the eye-brows of the FA. Hence, one logical understanding is that these extensions are also influenced by the homegrown rule and are given out to be on the safer side too.
3) Experience and manager's backing
In the latest press conference before the game against Fulham, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in the context of Jones' extension said that, "It's a signal for the players that we believe in them. Phil has been here for so long. He's won the Premier League, he's won more trophies, he knows what it takes for us to move up the table."
It is pretty obvious that ever since Mike Phelan and Ole have returned, the traditions of United have been resonating to the world of football and these contractual decisions also highlight that experience is being valued at the club and in this situation, the manager's faith plays a role as well.
Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Ashley Young boast a wealth of experience that will definitely be useful in the squad. If United have to challenge for next season, such figures are important and with the manager's backing, they can put their heart on the pitch for the club. The manager plays a huge role in a player's contract decision and it shows.
