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Man Utd fans unconvinced after Jose Mourinho decides on one player he wants next season
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho he wants to keep Chris Smalling at the club next season - but fans are not convinced.
Mourinho mocks Chris Smalling's haircut after win at Watford
Smalling is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and Manchester United have opened contracts talks to keep him.
Under Mourinho’s orders, United are looking to hand the centre-back a new deal before the end of the season which would include a pay-rise.
He is currently on £80,000-a-week and is looking to increase that figure to closer to £120,000, according to the Mail.
The matter is complicated by the fact United have the option of activating a 12-month extension on his contract.
However, they would prefer to nail down his long-term future now rather than risk going into the final 12 months with no guarantee of the player staying.
But the news has split the supporters on United fans’ forum redcafe.net.
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Under a thread entitled ‘Chris Smalling 2018-19 performances’, the response to the news was initially warm with one writing: “Good for him. Deserve more when compared to his teammates.” “Deserves probably twice what next defender in the club makes,” added another.
But the negativity soon started with other posters being less appreciative of the news.
“120? Lol,” asked one while another said: “Cheaper to resign than replace... Club is f**ked.”
A fellow fan reasoned: “He's a good CB. We'd be in a much worse spot without him currently, UNTIL we can sign somebody better. He's the best of our current options at actually defending.”
To which another replied: “You don't realise how depressed I got reading that.”
While on Twitter the doubters knocked Smalling and United in their droves.’
Replying to United’s post wishing Smalling a happy birthday - he turns 29 today - one fan responded: “Hope he has a good day ofc but needs to move on and let another club waste wages on him.”
“Remember when Utd were feared and respected,” moaned another.
The Mail add that Smalling would demand a move to another club in the Champions League if he was to leave Old Trafford.