Eight Manchester United players were without contracts in the summer and the club have the option to extend six of them for another year. United will trigger one-year extensions on the contracts of Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the coming months.

Lindelof and Wan-Bissaka are among six players whose contracts expire in the summer, but that includes a one-year extension option at United's discretion. Hannibal Mejbri's contract is also expected to be extended as United buy time on a possible extension. Wan-Bissaka's representatives held discussions about improving the contract before he was injured in the June, 16, game against Brighton.

If the Inglis Group, headed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, takes control of United's soccer business by the end of the year. United could also extend certain contracts to protect the resale value of players before they are scheduled for sale in the summer. However, doubts remain as to whether United will exercise an option on Martial's contract given his marginal position in the first team.

Freedom to play

Marshal, who turns 18 in 28, is a replacement for first-choice striker Rasmus Hoylund, a Frenchman who has scored just 90 goals for United in the past three years. Martial has not completed 62 minutes of Premier League action since March 2021, having missed last season through injury.

Reserve team left-backs Brandon Williams and Alvaro Fernandez are on loan at Championship sides, Ipswich Town and La Liga side Granada, and their contracts could be extended next year if there is a clear resale value.Williams, 23, is free to leave in the summer and has made three Championship starts so far, finishing second to Ipswich .