Valencia ready to quit
Manchester United club captain Antonio Valencia is considering leaving in January “after becoming disenchanted with life at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho”, according to reports.
The Times claims the 33-year-old is weighing up his options after falling down the side’s pecking order. The veteran defender started only his seventh game of the season on Wednesday, when United lost to Spanish side Valencia in the Champions League.
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Major move on the cards?
The Ecuadorian has “told friends that he fears that he cannot win Mourinho over and is thinking about leaving”, says The Times. Valencia moved to United from Wigan Athletic in 2009 and is the most senior serving player at Old Trafford.
His representatives flew to Manchester this week to “discuss his future”, the newspaper continues, adding that there is a strong possibility of a January exit. As to Valencia’s likely destination, rumours are rife in Ecuador that he will sign for a Major League Soccer side in the US.
Martial on the market?
Valencia is one of nine players whose contracts expire next summer, with Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Matteo Darmian and Andreas Pereira among those who could depart in June.
The club has one-year options on their contracts, and United are “keen to hand a long-term deal to Martial”, according to The Times. However, he is yet to commit his future to Old Trafford, amid rumours of a possible approach from Arsenal.
Philippe Lamboley, Martial’s agent, has said in the past that the Frenchman wants “to leave Old Trafford”, but United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward hopes to persuade the forward to pen a new deal at the end of this season.
The same goes for Ander Herrera, whose contract runs out in the summer, and negotiations with the Spanish midfielder “are said to be progressing well”.
Discussions with De Gea
As for David de Gea, Woodward is cautiously optimistic that he “will sign a new deal”, despite recent speculation linking him to Juventus and Real Madrid.
United have triggered a one-year extension to the goalkeeper’s current contract, in effect tying him to the club until 2020. This also gives the two parties time to discuss a pay hike.
It is reported that Spanish No. 1 De Gea “wants a contract worth near to that of Alexis Sanchez, who is on about £350,000 per week”.
