Fred keen to stay at Man Utd despite midfield transfer plans

Manchester United midfielder Fred is keen to stay at the club beyond the summer, but insists he wants to be ‘important’ and will hold talks with his family, the club and Erik ten Hag.

Fred, who recently turned 30, joined United from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018 for a fee close to £50m. Much of his time at Old Trafford has been in difficult circumstances, with the club struggling to find its identity amid a string of managers.

But the Brazilian had possibly the best season of his United career to date in 2022/23, making 56 appearances, scoring six goals and registering six assists, albeit mostly as a substitute. The 12-month option on his contract to extend it until 2024 was triggered in December.

Fred was an important squad player for Ten Hag in a season where United finish third in the Premier League – only a fourth top three finish since 2013 – reached the FA Cup final and won the Carabao Cup. He also started the FA Cup final in a bid to give United more midfield solidity.

“Of course I always want to be playing, to be helping my team,” he told TNT Sports. “I still don’t know [about my future], I have to talk with my family, I still have one year left in my contract here.

“Now it is holiday time and a good opportunity to rest. I’ll talk to my staff, to the club and see what is everyone’s decision. I do have to talk with Ten Hag as well, he’s the manager and the conversation has to involve everyone.

“We have to see how next season will plan out. I want to be important, I want to help the team, so we’ll see. But I’ve always been and still am very happy at Manchester United.”

Many of Fred’s starts this season were when Christian Eriksen was unavailable or rested. With United in the market for another central midfielder, it could push him further down the pecking order.

Although United have been dealt a blow over price in their efforts to make Marcel Sabitzer’s loan from Bayern Munich into a permanent transfer, the club still retains summer interest in high profile midfield targets, including Frenkie de Jong, Mason Mount and Declan Rice.