Antonio Valencia will sign a new long-term contract at Old Trafford next week, chief executive David Gill confirmed. The Ecuador winger is only halfway through the four-year deal he signed when joining from Wigan for £16million in 2009, but the 25-year-old has agreed new terms in the region of £80,000-a-week. Gill said: 'We're in the process of finalising that. He's been to the Copa America and we've been away but that will be sorted out next week. It's a long-term contract.' Gill also revealed that United are looking at offering Javier Hernandez improved terms to reward him for an outstanding first season at Old Trafford. Even though the Mexico striker signed a five-year contract when Sir Alex Ferguson bought him from Chivas Guadalajara for £7m last summer. The United chief said: 'Hernandez came on a five-year deal, as did Chris Smalling. We did Chris because there was a re-negotiation clause in his contract, which we would have done anyway, if he met a certain number of appearances. 'There's no such clause in Javier's contract. Having said that, we intend to address it. But we want to address it when there is no pressure with regards to that issue, so we intend to do it in the autumn.' Dimitar Berbatov's future: NOT ONE YEAR LEFT 'He's not in the final year of his contract. People keep telling me that but there is an option to extend Dimitar's contract by another year, on the club's side. 'We can do it whenever we want to do it. There are no conditions around it. Everyone has been talking about Berbatov from the outside, saying he wants to leave or that we want want him to leave, but we don't want him to go. We want him to stay. 'He scored over 20 goals last season, so there is no desire on our behalf to see him go. From our perspective he has, effectively, two years to go. 'There's no point in extending that option. We have until the end of the season, so we can assess how it goes, talk to him, see how he performs and see what happens. 'I've not had one conversation with Dimitar (about his future). There has been no correspondence in that respect. 'The decision Alex took was a decision he took for that particular game. It wasn't a decision taken with a view that we want Dimitar to go, because we don't.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Manchester-United-contract.html#ixzz1TaYDQUw8
If there is such a clause in Berbatov's contract then I don't see any logical reason not to put it to practice now. And new deals for AV and Hernandez is great news
He could pick up a bad injury this season or a huge drop in form, smart move by the club, if he wants to stay he has to play well.
Even if he had a huge drop in form he'd still be worth a considerable amount of money. I don't see how throwing away millions by letting a player walk on a Bosman is smart. And considering Berbatov has had a fairly injury-free career it's not very likely he'll suddenly turn into a Hargreaves.
They wont let him walk away but they will keep him motivated, the contract extension is in the clubs hands and can be invoked regardless of Berbatovs intentions(though that should not be an issue as he has stated many times that he wants to finish his career here). I can see Berba playing at the same level for another 5 seasons ala Sheringham his game does not rely on pace so he will likely get a further contract extension.
The thing is, if SAF wants to get rid of him next summer it won't be a problem even if he has a year left. A lot of clubs would like to buy him I imagine. That way we'd get a nice transfer fee, as opposed to sod all. There's a reason players usually aren't allowed to run their contracts down, because allowing a valuable player to walk for free is like flushing money down the toilet. Plus toying around with his contract like that doesn't exactly send a message that he's wanted or appreciated at the club doesn't it?
Most of our players are on long contracts but are still motivated. What's so different about Berbatov that there has to be such an arrangement to keep him motivated?
I dont know but if you read Gills comments he feels thats the best way to go about it.Prob an age thing as injuries are harder to shake as you get on a bit but Gill doesnt appear to have any concerns about the situation, like I said, I feel Berba can play well into his thirties due to his playing style and I think we will give him another extension beyond the current agreement.
To be fair, exercising a one year option may not be seen as a great message to him unless we first negotiate with him over a new deal. The option would be a very one way approach to prolong his contract, and if we do it before exploring all negotiation options it might send a bad message. Given that it's been rumoured he's been offered a new three year deal, the club will probably want to give him time to consider that rather than just unilaterally force the extension.
Berbatov is staying which is good to see. The club want him to stay and the player wants to stay. I am happy we have kept him. Though, we do have a lot of strikers.
