Marouane Fellaini is out of contract with Manchester United at the end of the season.
The Belgian midfielder can walk away from Old Trafford in the summer on a free transfer and can talk to non-English clubs this month about a potential move at the end of the season. According to reports, Fellaini has already rejected one contract offer from United, and while his representatives are anticipating a second offer, the two parties appear too far apart at the moment for any agreement to be reached.
According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, Jose Mourinho wants to keep the player, who he considers to be “hugely useful”, and Fellaini enjoys working with the United coach and playing for the club. However, he and his representatives are seeking what could be the “last big contract of his career”, and want around £125,000 a week. According to the report, United are “highly unlikely” to pay the Belgian midfielder that figure, and thus the two parties are yet to make progress on a new deal.
The report also claims that Fellaini has rejected one offer to leave Old Trafford, and clubs such as Juventus, Besiktas and Valencia are interested in the 30-year-old. Juventus are, however, expected to sign Emre Can on a free transfer from Liverpool at the end of the season, so a move to Turkey or Spain seems more likely for Fellaini, should he leave United in the summer.
The average weekly wage in the Premier League is £50,817, and the average wage at United is around £100,000. So, Fellaini is only asking for slightly above the going rate for a first-team player at Old Trafford. He is also perfectly entitled to seek the best contract possible, as professional football is a short career, and he only has a few years left at the top level. However, would it really be in United’s best interests to renew his contract? He has been a useful player, and some of the criticism of him has been harsh – we’ve all been guilty of it. But surely that money would be better served in other areas of the squad?
Fellaini joined United from Everton for £27.5m on transfer deadline day in September 2013. He was David Moyes’ only signing that summer, and endured a difficult couple of seasons at Old Trafford. However, despite few expecting him to succeed at United, he has played 146 times for the club, and helped them win the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Europa League in recent seasons.
