Which Man Utd players are out of contract this summer? Current status on David de Gea and more

Manchester United look to have finally brought a horrific era to an end with the arrival of Erik ten Hag. The club have struggled to impress since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure ten years ago, however the Dutchman may have brought back the good times to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have looked like a completely different team this season as they sit third in the Premier League and have just lifted their first piece of silverware since 2017. Ten Hag has worked wonders in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, who have all been key players this term.

While the final months of the current campaign will be United’s main focus at the minute, they are also likely to have one eye on the summer. There may be some new arrivals in Manchester, however it could also be just as important to tie down players to new deals ahead of their contracts expiring.

We have taken a look at the six players that will see their contract end this summer and what their situation at the club is looking like...

Tom Heaton - option for a further year

Tom Heaton made a surprise move to Manchester United in July 2021 after he was released by Aston Villa. After originally leaving the Red Devils eleven years prior, Heaton was brought in as a back-up to David de Gea and has only made three appearances since rejoining the club.

The 36-year-old made his first-team debut when he replaced Dean Henderson in the second half of their Champions League clash with Young Boys in December 2021, before starting his first game in the EFL Cup over a year later. He is yet to make his Premier League debut for United and it looks very unlikely that that will happen anytime soon.

It remains unclear whether he will even feature in the top flight before he leaves the club, with his contract expiring in the summer. The Red Devils do have the option to extend his stay by a further year but it looks unlikely given his age and lack of game time so far.

David de Gea - option of a further year

David de Gea is Man United’s second longest-serving player currently at the club after joining in June 2011 - a matter of weeks after Phil Jones’ move to Old Trafford.

The Spaniard was long seen as the best goalkeeper in the world but had struggled in recent years and was expected to leave the Premier League outfit, however he appears to have turned things around and has been hugely impressive in between the sticks this term. De Gea has made 34 appearances in all competitions this season, picking up 16 clean sheets.

De Gea’s current contract with United is set to expire this summer, while the club also have an option of a further year. However, they are yet to exercise the option with only a few months to go before the season concludes. It still looks very likely that the 32-year-old will remain with the club and it is believed that United are looking to tie him down to a different contract that will see his salary lowered. De Gea is believed to be eager to stay at Old Trafford so it would be a big surprise if he isn’t still in the top flight next season.

Marcel Sabitzer

Marcel Sabitzer joined United on loan during the January transfer window as Ten Hag’s side endured an injury crisis in the midfield. With the likes of Eriksen, Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay sidelined, while Casemiro had also been suspended, Sabitzer was brought straight into the team.

The Austrian has made five appearances for the Red Devils so far and is doing a good job at filling the gap, however the return of Casemiro has left him settling for a place on the bench. Despite that, reports have claimed Sabitzer is eager to make his stay in England permanent in the summer.

SPORT1 have claimed that the midfielder is open to leaving Bayern Munich permanently and the German club could be willing to part ways with him for around £13.2 million. A permanent switch looks likely, however it is likely to depend on Sabitzer’s performances for the rest of the campaign.

Phil Jones - option of a further year

Despite being the longest serving player at United, Phil Jones has really struggled for game time for much of his time with the club. The defender hasn’t featured for the senior team since May 2022 and has only made 21 appearances in all competitions since signing a new contract over four years ago.

While the Red Devils have the option to extend Jones’ contract by a further year, it seems extremely unlikely that they will take up that option given how far down the pecking order he is. The centre-back is approaching his 32nd birthday and also earns more than the likes of Scott McTominay and Tyrell Malacia, so United will certainly be looking to offload him from their wage bill.

Jack Butland

Jack Butland joined United on loan from Crystal Palace at the start of the January transfer window after Martin Dubravka returned to Newcastle United. The 29-year-old was brought in as a back-up to De Gea, however he is yet to make his debut for the club and could potentially fail to make a single appearance before his loan spell ends.

There is no option for the club to make Butland’s move permanent and the goalkeeper is expected to return to Selhurst Park at the end of the season. Ten Hag will be hopeful of completely revamping that position with three keepers’ contracts coming to an end.

Wout Weghorst

Wout Weghorst’s move to United came as a huge surprise last month when his spell with Besiktas was cancelled and he joined the Red Devils from Burnley until the end of the season. While the striker has only netted once under Ten Hag, he has enjoyed a run in the starting line-up and featured from the start in the Carabao Cup final win over the weekend.

It has been reported that Weghorst is eager to stay at Old Trafford beyond this season, however even his recent performances seem unlikely to earn him a permanent switch. The Dutchman is approaching 31 this year and could well be replaced with a top quality striker in the summer, while Vincent Kompany is also thought to be eager to keep hold of Weghorst if the Clarets are promoted.

Axel Tuanzebe - option of a further year

After 17 years in Manchester, Axel Tuanzebe’s stay with United could come to an end at the end of the season. The defender has failed to nail down a regular place in the starting line-up and has spent most of the past few seasons out on loan with the likes of Aston Villa and Napoli.

Tuanzebe signed a new contract with the Red Devils in 2021 with the option of a further year but has failed to make an appearance for the club since. He joined Stoke City on loan last month and could have seen his chance to star for his boyhood club pass with his contract expiry rapidly approaching.

It seems extremely unlikely that United will exercise the option to extend his contract given his lack of game time, while he remains behind a number of players in the pecking order.