da premier bet： According to AS, Atletico Madrid are closely monitoring Ander Herrera’s contract developments at Manchester United.
What’s the story?
da dobrowin： Herrera picked up the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award last season after impressing during a campaign that saw him make 50 appearances in all competitions.
It had been claimed that the Spaniard could become United’s new captain following Wayne Rooney’s departure, but that honour was ultimately given to Michael Carrick.
Herrera, who is valued at £27m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has played plenty of football in recent weeks, but he struggled for action in the early stages of the campaign when Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini were both available.
Nemanja Matic and Pogba were Jose Mourinho’s first picks in central midfield in the early weeks, with Fellaini next in line. That left Herrera well down the pecking order as he went from key man to a player that was struggling for football.
Incredibly, Herrera’s contract at United will expire next summer, and according to AS, Atletico are closely monitoring developments at Old Trafford as the La Liga giants consider poaching the Spaniard on a free transfer.
Surely he could not leave on a free?
As it stands, Herrera would be able to enter into a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club when the January transfer window opens for business, which is incredible for a player that is just 28, and has a whole host of experience at the highest level.
It is thought that contract talks are underway, but Herrera would surely want guarantees over his future at Old Trafford before signing a new deal.
When Mourinho has a fully-fit squad, Herrera does not make the first XI. That places the midfielder in a difficult situation at this stage of his career.
Atletico are currently banned from registering new players, but that situation changes at the start of 2018, and having already tied up a deal for Diego Costa, Herrera could be the next Premier League player to make the move to Madrid.
It is three years since Herrera left his homeland for United, and despite being a favourite of the club’s supporters, his future at the club is extremely uncertain.