Dan Ashworth 'to throw two Man Utd stars lifeline' as four others edge towards exit door

Manchester United are reportedly set to trigger two contract extensions and leave four other players to run down their deals.

Sporting director Dan Ashworth could lose up to six players as free agents next summer unless action is taken in the meantime. And though some of those on the chopping block would not be missed too sorely by manager Erik ten Hag, others are still prominent members of the first team.

Amad Diallo and Harry Maguire will both be out of contract next June unless club chiefs opt to trigger their respective one-year extensions. According to Manchester World, they are expected to do just that.

Amad has started more than half of United’s Premier League games and both of their Europa League encounters this campaign. With potential left to fulfil at only 22 years old, there has been talk of tying the Ivorian down to a new longer-term agreement over the coming months to warn off potential suitors.

Due to turn 32 before the end of the season, Maguire may not have as long left at Old Trafford as Amad, but the club will reportedly trigger the extension to protect his market value.

The centre-back will be at liberty to discuss a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs in January unless United have confirmed the extension before then. Other reports indicate that United will entertain offers of approximately £10million this winter.

The incentives are clear for United to extend Amad and Maguire’s contracts, but those of Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton do not include the option for a further 12 months.

Given that none of the four are knocking on the door of Ten Hag’s starting XI, all are over 30, and letting them go would ease the strain on the club’s wage bill, United may look to spend their money elsewhere.

Since Ten Hag was appointed in 2022 the likes of Casemiro, Mason Mount, Antony and Matthijs de Ligt have all been snapped up on huge pay, with long-serving stars like Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes also high up on the wage bill.

Ashworth and Ten Hag are desperate for more of them to start earning their money after a disastrous start to the season, which has pushed the manager to the brink of the sack. United chiefs met in London last week but there has been no sign of an imminent change in the dugout since.