MANCHESTER, July 1 Betandsured. Michael Carrick’s first full campaign as Manchester United head coach is set to be defined as much by negotiations away from the pitch as by results on it, with four first team players entering the final year of their contracts.
Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Altay Bayindir are all approaching the final 12 months of their existing deals, presenting the club with a complex set of decisions that will shape the squad’s composition for years to come .
Shaw’s Precarious Position
The most pressing concern centres on Luke Shaw, whose contract situation offers United the least flexibility. The 30 year old left back, the longest serving member of the dressing room having arrived from Southampton in 2014, does not have a one-year extension option in his deal .
That places the club at risk of losing the England international on a free transfer next summer unless fresh terms are agreed. Shaw’s value to Carrick was underscored last season when he became only the fifth outfield player in United’s Premier League history to start all 38 league matches, joining Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin and Harry Maguire in achieving that feat .
However, any new deal is unlikely to match his current £200,000 a week wages. Reports suggest United are prepared to offer an extension only on reduced terms, potentially structured similarly to Maguire’s recent renewal with lower guaranteed pay supplemented by performance based bonuses .
Fernandes: Captain’s Future
The club captain’s situation carries a different complexion. Fernandes, who broke the Premier League assist record last season and was named Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, has been assured of United’s desire to retain him .
The 31 year old rejected an approach from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal last year and has signalled his intention to remain at Old Trafford . United hold a 12 month extension option in his contract, providing a safety net that has allowed them to shelve immediate talks in favour of prioritising new signings .
Speaking to Manchester based reporters in October, Fernandes stated he would not discuss his future with his agent until after the World Cup . Carrick has publicly backed his captain to stay, saying: “I think Bruno, you can see he’s happy and he’s playing some fantastic football” .
Martinez and Bayindir
Lisandro Martinez’s contract also includes a one year extension option, affording United greater control over the Argentine defender’s future . The 28 year old has been a first choice starter for his nation at the World Cup but endured an injury disrupted club campaign, missing the first three months with a knee problem before a calf injury and subsequent suspension further curtailed his season .
Bayindir appears destined for an exit. The goalkeeper’s contract expires in 2027 with an extension option, but he is planning to leave this summer in search of regular first team football . He did not make a single appearance for Turkey as they crashed out of the World Cup group stage.
For Carrick, navigating these contractual waters will be as critical to United’s ambitions as any transfer business conducted in the coming months.
