Four Man Utd players can agree to join new clubs next week as huge decisions loom

View 2 Images

The winter transfer window opens for Premier League clubs on January 1 and plenty will be looking to add to their ranks. However, the turn of the year will also be key for players whose contracts expire in the summer.

Anyone with a deal running out on June 30 will be free to speak to overseas clubs next month and even sign a pre-contract agreement. That would mean they move on a free in the summer, while remaining free to play for their current club until then.

This time last year, Liverpool stars Trent Alexander-Arnold , Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were all in that position, with Salah and Van Dijk eventually signing new deals and Alexander-Arnold moving to Real Madrid . This time around, Manchester United are at risk of losing several stars themselves.

Not all expiring contracts are created equal, of course. Tom Heaton has been tipped to retire at the end of the current campaign, while Tyrell Malacia is unlikely to be a significant loss after barely featuring over the last two-and-a-half years.

There was a time when the other two players on the list also wouldn't have felt like huge losses. However, both Harry Maguire and Casemiro have rebuilt their United careers under Ruben Amorim to a point that they will be missed if and when they leave.

United hold an option for an extra year on Casemiro's deal after he signed an initial four-year contract in 2022. They exercised a similar option with Maguire, whose own deal had been due to expire in June 2025 before the option was triggered.

Despite this, questions remain over both men. Casemiro is one of the Premier League's highest earners and there's a sense from some that he hasn't done enough to justify another year on high wages despite his resurgence, while Maguire has spoken about the uncertainty around his own future .

View 2 Images

"I’m in my last year now, so this could be the last time I played at Anfield for this club," the England international said after scoring United's winner away to Liverpool. "It’s really important that I’ve come here and ticked that one off."

The Mail reported in October that Maguire's representatives had been in regular contact with United but without a formal offer arriving. The 32-year-old, who has been sidelined through injury of late, could yet agree to a wage cut if offered a new contract of a suitable length.

Casemiro could also still stay at Old Trafford, despite reports of interest from Saudi Arabia and the United States. Head coach Ruben Amorim has been impressed by the Brazilian's reaction to falling out of favour last season, speaking highly of the example set this term.

"I think he gives a lot of experience. He's an example for everyone," Amorim said in October. "In the beginning, he was behind every midfielder, even Toby [Collyer], but he fought and he worked, and now he's back in the national team. He's so important for us."

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.