One Manchester United star is in line for a surprise new contract at Old Trafford despite being an outcast in Ruben Amorim’s current squad.
Manchester United are planning for a major reshuffle within Ruben Amorim’s squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Changes are desperately needed after a dismal Premier League campaign which leaves United in the bottom half heading into the final weeks of the season.
There are already plans for various signings to be made but the Reds are also set to see several players depart the club in the summer.
The likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony are expected to leave after their loans finish, while four players are currently heading towards the end of their contracts at Old Trafford.
United star set for surprise contract U-turn
Tom Heaton, Victor Lindelöf, Jonny Evans and Christian Eriksen all have their deals running out at the end of the season and it seemed like United were not planning to renew any of them.
However, the latest information from MailSport states that 39-year-old goalkeeper Heaton is in surprise talks with the club over signing a 12-month contract extension.
Heaton is currently the third-choice shot-stopper and has only made three competitive appearances since he returned to United in the summer of 2021.
However, with there being uncertainty over the futures of Altay Bayındır and André Onana, it is understandable that United want to keep Heaton as the experienced option in that goalkeeping department.
Of course, there are young talents like Elyh Harrison in the building at United but his next move should be a loan within the Football League to get consistent minutes after standing out for Chester earlier this term.
Heaton’s wages make United contract renewal understandable
While Heaton may be kept at Old Trafford for another season, the third-choice goalie is only earning £45,000-per-week, which is on the lower-end of the first-team squad.
Evans (£65,000pw) is on slightly more than his veteran teammate, while Eriksen (£150,000pw) and Lindelöf (£120,000pw) earn significantly more than them both.
Seeing the Scandinavian duo depart the club would open up a significant amount of space on the wage bill, alongside the expected departures of Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho.
Heaton’s wages are minor and likely reason why the club are open to extending his deal for another 12 months, especially since he probably has a significant role behind-the-scenes as a senior player in a youthful squad.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.