There is a reasonably sized group of players amongst United’s squad that have expiring contracts next summer.
Wes Foderingham, 31, has been ever so reliable between the sticks since coming into the XI last season. Last campaign Foderingham conceded 0.7 goals per game, but this season he has improved on that already fantastic number by conceding 0.5 goals per game. However, Foderingham is out of contract next summer, you would imagine United will want to tie him down to a new deal.
Ollie Norwood, 31, is also out of contract in the summer. This is the midfielder’s fifth season with the club, and this season has arguably been his best season in terms of performance. His contribution to breaking up/slowing down opposition attacks has improved drastically.
Last campaign, Norwood averaged 1.8 tackles per game, this season he is averaging 3.3 tackles per game. The former Northern Ireland international has improved his duels numbers, last season he won 3.9 duels per game, which was a 54% success rate. In this campaign, he has registered winning 5.2 duels per game, which is a 64% success rate.
Our inform number nine, Oli McBurnie is a free agent next summer. McBurnie has scored 4 goals in his last 5 games, after breaking a long goal drought earlier this season at Luton in the 1-1 draw. This is the first time in a couple of seasons where the Scottish international has been healthy, and it’s showing.
However, comparing his numbers from last season, it’s clear to see the difference. The 26-year-old had an xG of 0.25 per game last season, which underlines the lack of quality chances falling his way. This season, McBurnie has registered an xG of 0.74 per game, you can see the number of high-quality chances that he’s received has considerably increased.
Club legend and boyhood Blade, Billy Sharp, 36, is in the final year of his contract. The last 5 months of Sharps career have been riddled with unfortunate injuries, with the club captain just recently coming back from an ankle injury. It would be fairytale stuff if United were to get back to the Premier League and give Sharp a final year as a Blade, as a Premier League player.
John Fleck, 31, is currently out of action with a fractured leg. The Scottish international midfielder looked to have got into a rhythm and some form earlier this season. Unfortunately, it was revealed that Fleck fractured his leg after the Blackburn game, and he’s been sidelined since.
Fleck, who is out of contract next summer, has created the joint most amount of big chances this season amongst the United players, with 3. Fleck has played the 2nd most key passes per game with 1.8, only Norwood has played more (2.2).