According to a recent report by The Sun, Manchester United are set to offer a one-year contract extension to Nemanja Matic whose current deal at Old Trafford runs out at the end of this campaign. It is believed that the recent injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay have forced the Red Devils into making such an arrangement despite Matic’s poor run of form over the past couple of years (via The Sun).
It makes a lot of sense for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to retain the Serbia international for another year. He is set to become a free agent next summer, which means Man United risk losing him for nothing unless they tie him up on a new contract.
Matic’s Fall From Grace At The Theatre Of Dreams In Recent Seasons
The 31-year-old has been a sporadic feature in Solskjaer’s first-team this season as his performance levels have not been up to the standards of what is expected of a Man United player. He has lost a yard of pace from his game which is why he tends to slow his team’s tempo down in midfield.
Matic has played in 12 matches for the Mancunian outfit this term across all competitions. He has averaged 2.0 tackles, 0.3 interceptions and 0.5 clearances per game in the Premier League. However, the ex-Chelsea midfield ace boasts a high pass success rate of 83.9% in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored). He has also secured 48 senior caps for the Serbian national team and has scored two goals for his homeland in the process.
What Can The Serbian Anchorman Offer On The Pitch?
Despite Matic’s shortcomings in recent years, the veteran midfielders have a wealth of experience at the highest level and can still do a decent job of protecting the backline. When playing with confidence on the field, the Serbia international can read the danger quicker than most others and can overpower opponents using his strength to win the ball back for his team.
Matic’s Potential Contract Extension: Good Deal For Everyone Involved?
However, Matic has been guilty of being way too inconsistent this season which has hampered his side’s progress in the English first division. With Pogba and McTominay unavailable for selection at the moment, a player of Matic’s vast experience and winning pedigree could add value to Solsjaer’s injury-hit squad heading into the business end of this campaign.
Hence, Man United’s desire to offer Matic a 12-month contract extension seems like a win-win move for both the player and the club. However, if his situation at Old Trafford does not improve for the better, then we can expect the Red Devils to cash in on him next summer when they will also be able to get a transfer fee for him if he is still under contract.
