Manchester United expected to trigger two contract extensions as six could leave for free next summer

Manchester United could lose six players for free at the end of the current season, although two of them are expected to remain at the club at the very least.

Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton have all entered the final year of their current contracts and do not have an optional additional year in their respective deals. It means the quartet will all depart as free agents next summer, and be free to negotiate with overseas clubs from January, unless they are offered new terms by United before then.

Lindelof is expected to leave next year, either in the January transfer window or once his contract expires, after United unsuccessfully tried to sell him during the summer. The Swede was never likely to leave once he suffered an injury that ruled him out of most of the pre-season schedule and he only made his first appearance of the campaign from the bench against Aston Villa last time out.

Eriksen has enjoyed a renaissance in the United midfield as of late and could be offered an extra year at the club to protect his resale value. As he was signed as a free agent, any future sale would be profit on the balance books, which could incentivise a contract extension.

Veteran duo Heaton and Evans both signed one-year extensions in the summer after it was announced Ten Hag would be staying at the club, and although they are both likely to leave next year, they could end up staying depending on who the manager is at the time.

Amad Diallo and Harry Maguire have both also entered the final year of their deals but United have one-year extension options with each player's contract, that they are expected to trigger. United still plan to hand Amad a new long-term contract extension after his recent rise to a regular first-team role, while Maguire's will likely only have his deal extended in order to protect his market value.

United could look to sell Maguire next summer in order to recoup some of their investment in him, though his long-term future is also likely to hinge on who the manager is by the end of the campaign.