Manchester United so keen to keep Marouane Fellaini

MANCHESTER UNITED are stepping up their efforts to tie Marouane Fellaini to a new deal — by ignoring their policy on players over 30.

United usually only offer their stars one-year contracts when they hit 30, which is the age midfielder Fellaini reaches in three weeks.

But they are so keen to keep the 6ft 4in Belgian they are prepared to double that, with a further 12-month option, to avoid losing him for nothing.

Fellaini, sidelined for the past month after spraining an ankle on international duty, is out of contract at the end of the season.MUnited activated a similar extension clause in his current contract in January. And they are prepared to match his current £130,000-a-week wages with the new deal. Boss Jose Mourinho is eager to keep Fellaini — who has overcome a spell when he was slated by United fans — and even emerged as a key player before he was crocked. The club is determined to safeguard their asset after he was eyed by the Chinese Super League — and to stop him being free to talk to clubs on the continent in January.

From The Sun