According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Manchester United will agree a new deal for Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini. It’s a victory for manager Jose Mourinho who has tried to tie the 30-year-old to a contract extension for some time.
United were facing the prospect of losing Fellaini on a free transfer after he rebuffed their attempts to extend his Old Trafford stay, but now it appears he’ll remain in Manchester for another two years.
The midfielder joined United from Everton in 2013 and has gone on to make 156 appearances in all competitions. Fellaini struggled for playing time last season, however, making just five Premier League starts and may find himself behind the likes of Fred, Nemanja Matic, Paul Poba and Ander Herrera in the pecking order next season.
He was linked with fellow Premier League club Arsenal, Italian Serie A outfit AC Milan and Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce, but it appears United have won the race for his signature. Fellaini says he will announce his decision on July 1. It’s expected that he will commit his future to United, ending talk of an exit.
The midfielder’s decision to stay will likely mean a replacement isn’t signed. Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and OGC Nice’s Jean Michael Seri are two players who have been linked with the Red Devils, but Mourinho may now stick with what he’s got in midfield.