Manchester United to discuss new deal with £150,000-a-week midfielder

Manchester United have reportedly planned to discuss a new contract with midfielder Juan Mata after failing to find potential suitors for his services this summer. The Spain international is presently with the United first-team for their pre-season tour of the United States and discussions are likely to commence following their return to Manchester.
According to Metro, United boss Jose Mourinho is keen to preserve the transfer value of the former Chelsea man and this should witness him rewarded with a two-year extension on top of his current £150,000-a-week deal which is due to expire in the summer of 2019.
Mata has largely been a squad player during his two seasons under Mourinho and this had led to suggestions that he could leave Old Trafford during the 2018 summer transfer window.
However, things have not gone to plan with limited interest in his signature and United are now set to discuss a suitable extension with the midfielder, who has impressed in the ongoing pre-season tour.
At full strength, Mata would surely struggle to command a regular role with competition from Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial for a wider role but things are likely to pave differently for him at the start of next season.
Both Rashford and Lingard are unlikely to start the league opener against Leicester City following their exertions at the recent World Cup and Mourinho has appeared to confirm that Mata could be among those to kickstart United’s campaign at Old Trafford.
Martial and Sanchez are both capable of commanding a wide role ahead of Mata for the curtain raiser but one of the pair should slot into the centre-forward position, considering Romelu Lukaku may potentially start from the bench after his World Cup exploits.
Mata has been with Manchester United since the winter of 2014 and during this period, he has made close to 200 appearances across all competitions. His most noticeable contribution has come in the FA Cup where he netted the equaliser in United’s 2-1 final triumph over Crystal Palace in 2016.