Man Utd make contract decisions on five players as Erik ten Hag provides injury latest

Erik ten Hag has confirmed Manchester United have opted to renew the contracts of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal by an additional 12 months.

The trio, like most United players, have the option of a year’s extension included in their deals, and with their respective contracts set to expire this summer United have decided to utilise that option and prevent them leaving for free at the end of the season.

But the Dutchman also revealed the club have not opted for the same approach with Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial, who are in the same boat.

“We are talking with Rapha Varane and Anthony Martial, and we triggered the options on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal,” the United manager said ahead of the FA Cup third-round tie against Wigan Athletic on Monday night.

Asked why Varane and Martial’s contracts have not been extended, Ten Hag claimed that was an ‘internal conversation between the club and the players.’

Meanwhile, the ex-Ajax boss also revealed that Andre Onana will be available against Wigan and could even face Tottenham Hotspur next weekend, despite being called up to the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The country’s opening game of the tournament comes less than 24 hours after the Spurs encounter, but Onana hopes to still be involved for United in the Premier League match. The 27-year-old has endured something of a fractious relationship with Cameroon and was sent home from the 2022 World Cup following a disagreement with Rigobert Song.

However, after coming out of international retirement last year, Onana was called up to the Cameroon squad twice in October and November and was also named in the African Cup of Nations roster.

“So, we're talking with [the] Cameroon Federation. It was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here, and it's constructive, so we will see,” explained Ten Hag. "I don't know yet [if he will be with us for the Tottenham game] but he will be there for the game against Wigan."

While Onana will be involved against Wigan, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Mason Mount won’t. All three returned to full training recently and are expected back soon, but Ten Hag confirmed he will have ‘more or less’ the same squad on Monday as he did against Nottingham Forest last week, meaning they will miss out.

By that logic, so too will Harry Maguire, Victor Lindleof, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, all of whom also missed the defeat to Forest due to injury.