31 October 2023 , 19:07
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Manchester United are set to trigger the 12-month extension in Aaron Wan-Bissaka's contract as negotiations over a new long-term deal stall.
Wan-Bissaka has eight months left on his current deal at Old Trafford and talks about agreeing a new contract were moving in a positive direction in the summer. The 25-year-old started in each of United's first four Premier League matches before picking up a hamstring injury as a second-half substitute against Brighton.
Now, according to the , talks to agree fresh terms for Wan-Bissaka have gone quiet and United are instead 'likely' to activate the extension in his contract until June 2025. However, it is claimed the situation will be revisited in the New Year as they look to tie down the right-back long-term.
If United do trigger Wan-Bissaka's extension, he will not be able to talk to teams outside of the United Kingdom over a pre-contract agreement. He also won't be able to leave the club next summer for free and will be tied down for at least one more season.
Wan-Bissaka has only just returned to training after missing nine matches, including five in the Premier League. United have collected a mixed bag of results in that time, and his absence has contributed to Erik ten Hag's issues at full-back.
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Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malaca have both missed a considerable amount of game time, while Sergio Reguilon spent a short spell on the sidelines through injury. With Wan-Bissaka also out, Ten Hag has been forced to play Victor Lindelof at left-back alongside two of Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane in central defence after Lisandro Martinez underwent surgery.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has less than a year left on his Manchester United contract (Getty Images)Speaking before his side's trip to Sheffield United, Ten Hag said of the former Crystal Palace star: "For instance, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, I don't think he's too far away from returning into team training and so back in the team."
Wan-Bissaka has made 165 appearances for the Red Devils since his £50million move from Crystal Palace in 2019.
United return to action in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle on Wednesday. It's a repeat of last season's final at Wembley and Ten Hag will be hoping for a similar outcome, having beaten the Magpies 2-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Casemiro.
But the Red Devils come into the game off the back of Sunday's 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. It was a damning afternoon for Ten Hag and his players as City cruised to victory in the end, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Phil Foden adding a third late on.