Manchester United have multiple first-team starters who are out of contract at the end season but there's no panic at the club.
That's because while David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Fred and Marcus Rashford are technically approaching the final six months of their deals, United have the option of an additional year with each player, which they are set to exercise.
Ten Hag was asked about those players' futures in Spain last week and he said: "We are talking with them to extend their contracts but we are in control because on all the players we have options and we will exercise these options."
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He was then pressed specifically about De Gea and responded: "Like I say, we have options and we will do them. You can see it this way (United are vulnerable due to the short duration on each deal) but if the decision is not that good we have other options."
Ten Hag didn't give much away when asked to provide clarity on De Gea and his poker face is strong, but it seems like the goalkeeper's future is the most uncertain from those 'out-of-contract players', despite retraining his No.1 status.
Although there were doubts about whether De Gea would survive Ten Hag's appointment in the summer, he strengthened his position in the squad last season and that made it difficult for the Dutchman to get rid of him so soon. De Gea won the Players' Player of the Year award and it was inadvisable for Ten Hag to make a decision on him after spending just a few weeks at the club.
Instead, it seemed sensible for Ten Hag to continue with De Gea and to assess him across this season, as he's never been comfortable with his feet and his distribution has historically been poor, which means he's no longer elite in his position.
De Gea needed to improve in that area to earn a contract extension and he's been able to average more passes, more successful passes and successful long passes per 90 in the Premier League in this campaign compared to 2021/22.
There are other positions in the squad, like centre-forward and right-back, which need to be strengthened at the end of the season and that, combined with De Gea's improvement, has been enough for Ten Hag to green-light his one-year extension.
What that means for De Gea's long-term future is not yet known. De Gea has just celebrated his 32nd birthday, which arguably means he's in his prime years as a goalkeeper, but if Ten Hag wants an elite ball-playing 'keeper, he'll need to replace him.
Another season with De Gea would be logical, as then investment in a goalkeeper would be easier to facilitate in the summer of 2024, which could signal the end of the Spaniard's time at Old Trafford, which would be 13 years of service by that stage.
Fred, who has made just four starts in the Premier League this season, is another player from that list who is set to be given a one-year extension but whose long-term future in Manchester should be doubtful beyond the 23/24 campaign.
The Brazilian was a guaranteed starter under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who trusted him as a proactive midfield lieutenant, but his involvement is now limited and that suggests Ten Hag does not consider him an integral part of his plans.
It would be foolish and a public embarrassment, considering he was signed for £52million in 2018, to allow Fred to leave on a free transfer, hence the one-year extension, and United could yet still recoup some of that investment.
De Gea and Fred's days at the club might be numbered, but Dalot, Shaw and Rashford all have long-term futures and it's possible longer-term contract renewals, not one-year extensions, could be negotiated with those players.
However, players who are entering the final six months of their contracts are allowed to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs by the start of January, which should mean contract announcements are imminent.
De Gea, Fred, Dalot, Shaw and Rashford will all have their contracts extended, but some will extend their stay longer than others.
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