Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 7y

Jose Mourinho: Manchester United 'in control' of players' futures

MANCHESTER -- Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United are "in control" of their players' futures as they club look to trigger extensions for five first-teamers.

Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young all have contracts at Old Trafford until next summer, with United holding an option to extend each deal by a further year.

Mourinho hinted at his news conference at Carrington on Friday that only Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Michael Carrick will have decisions to make at the end of the season when both will be out of contract.

Marouane Fellaini is also out of contract next summer, although sources have told ESPN FC United are keen to talk to the Belgian midfielder about a new deal.

The situation at United is different to that at Arsenal, who have both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil entering the final year of their contracts, something Arsene Wenger has said is "ideal."

Andreas Pereira is the latest player to sign a new contract, penning a new deal before he moved to Valencia on loan that will keep him at the club until 2019 with the option of another year.

Mourinho said: "When the club has a one-year option it means they have one more year of contract so nobody is in the last year. The only player, two players are Zlatan and Carrick.

"Two players at the end of the season who are going to sit, analyse what they did and what they want to do. All the other players are under the club control until end of the 2018-19 season. We are speaking about June 2019. No player ends his contract."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has praised Everton manager Ronald Koeman's handling of Wayne Rooney's arrest for drink driving.

The former United striker will appear at Stockport Magistrates Court on Sep. 18 -- the day after Everton play United at Old Trafford -- but is set to play for Everton against Tottenham at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Mourinho said: "I think it's normal that he faces the court situation. For me, that's it, end of story. He's a great guy, a great player. He's playing so well.

"I'm really happy that Ronald Koeman thinks in this simple way that I do too and has already said he's going to play."

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