Manchester United fans will be hoping for more exciting updates in January than the news they received regarding Chris Smalling this weekend.
It was announced on Saturday that the centre-back has signed a new contract to keep him at Old Trafford until 2022, with the option to extend for a further year.
Smalling - whose previous £80,000-a-week deal was set to expire at the end of the season - is likely earning an extra £40,000-a-week if the club accepted his reported demands.
The 29-year-old has started 13 of the Red Devils’ 16 Premier League matches this term, indicating he’s one of the few trusted members of Jose Mourinho’s current squad.
That being said, the Portuguese boss has made little effort to hide his desire to purchase reinforcements in Smalling’s position come January.
According to a report by the Evening Standard on Friday, United are weighing up a £100 million bid for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
Despite the obscene fee the Serie A club are holding out for, there’s every chance that fans would’ve preferred the cost of renewing Smalling’s contract to go towards signing the Senegalese instead.
Smalling isn’t the only player some of the Old Trafford faithful are keen to see the back of, though.
Phil Jones could leave on a free transfer if his employers don’t offer him fresh terms before the end of the campaign.
The former Blackburn defender has only recently returned to action following a two-month absence between September’s League Cup loss to Derby and the visit of Young Boys in late-November.
To the dismay of many, Jones and Smalling partnered each other in defence for the Red Devils’ last Premier League outing at home to Fulham.
While the hosts ran out 4-1 winners, it’s clear supporters have made up their minds on the duo.
Poor decision-making and errors have crippled Smalling and Jones’ reputations, and a video showing some of their worst moments has given critics another chance to vent their frustration.
It might be difficult to stomach for United fans, but it’s too hilarious to not watch…
It seems the Red Devils faithful don’t know whether to laugh or cry over such a brutal video of their own players.
Should the United hierarchy opt to table a new contract for Jones, too, expect some pretty severe backlash from northern England.
Were United wrong to offer Smalling a new contract, let alone a significant wage increase? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.