Manchester United open talks with Marouane Fellaini over new contract

Manchester United have held talks with Marouane Fellaini in a last-ditch attempt to convince the Belgium international to sign a new deal.

The 30-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning he will be allowed to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club from 1 January, but Jose Mourinho is desperate to keep him at Old Trafford.

The Belgian has established himself as an important part of Mourinho's plans after a difficult start to his career on the red half of Manchester and has proved to be an extremely useful option from the substitutes' bench so far this season.

Negotiations between the former Everton midfielder and the club, however, have not progressed as United would have hoped and Valencia, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray and Besiktas are all said to be closely monitoring the situation.

Galatasaray almost signed Fellaini in the summer, but their attempts to prize the midfielder away from Old Trafford were stopped by Mourinho.

The Portuguese is determined to ensure United do not lose the Belgian for free and, according to the Sun, he held talks with Fellaini last week. It is understood the 30-year-old was offered a two-year deal worth £130,000-a-week and was told he would continue to feature regularly in the starting XI.

Fellaini could also be offered a 12-month deal containing a clause that would allow United to trigger a one-year extension, should they wish to do so.

"In the last few days Jose has tried to get him to stay at the club during contract talks," a United source was quoted as saying.

"The boss promised to speak with the board on his behalf and asked if it is now just a matter of cash.

"Jose told him that he will continue to get plenty of playing opportunities under him at United. He may have already made up his mind but Jose is convinced he can still get him to change it and stay here."

The Belgian missed United's 2-1 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday (10 December) as he was left out of the matchday squad for the third Premier League game in a row. Fellaini missed all of United's three league games in October after picking up a knee injury on international duty but returned to the first team fold for the trip to Chelsea at the beginning of last month.

However, following consecutive substitute appearances at Stamford Bridge and against Newcastle United and Brighton at home he was not included in the squad for the trips to Watford and Arsenal and for United's 2-1 win against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford last week.