Manchester United have already acted to ensure they do not risk losing a large number of players on free transfers this summer.
The Red Devils triggered one-year extensions in Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard's contracts earlier this season to tie the two midfielders down at Old Trafford until 2022.
Elsewhere, Timothy Fosu-Mensah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen in January for a reported fee of £1.5million as he entered the final six months of his deal.
But there are still question marks surrounding the futures of four of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's stars - and the clock is ticking with their deals set to expire at the end of June.
These players range from starting XI regulars keen on a United exit, to senior figures who are desparate to extend their stay.
Here, Mirror Football takes a look at Manchester United's plan for their players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
Edinson Cavani
Age: 34
Man Utd appearances (goals): 22 (7)
Option to extend contract for another season: Yes
Manchester United's biggest headache ahead of the summer window concerns Edinson Cavani.
The veteran striker has been a formidable presence up front since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer and it was widely assumed club and player would agree to activate the one-year extension in his contract.
But the prospect of another year of Cavani leading the line was plunged into uncertainty after his father, Luis, declared the Uruguayan is unhappy in England and favours a return to South America.
"My son does not feel comfortable in England and wants to be close to the family again," Luis told TyC Sports .
"Edinson is going to end up playing in South America. I want Edinson to play in a team that fights for something important."
Luis also said his son has had "many conversations" with Boca Juniors chiefs and has been "seduced" by the idea of playing for the Argentine giants.
This was backed up by Cavani's former Old Trafford teammate Marcos Rojo, who is confident of a reunion in Beunos Aires in June.
In the meantime, Cavani has reaffirmed his dedication to Manchester United by insisting he is "proud to wear this shirt".
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not going to let the veteran striker - who is the Red Devils' joint-third top scorer this season - leave without a fight.
"We’re speaking to Eddy," said the Norwegian last week. "Edinson is a top striker and whatever he decides to do, let’s see. We’re in good dialogue with him.
"We want a competitive squad and we need someone up there to score the goals for us. So we’re looking at it."
Should Solskjaer be unsuccessful in convincing Cavani to stay for another season, it appears certain United would pursue a new striker and the club has already begun stepping up its pursuit of Erling Haaland.
How impressive has Edinson Cavani been this season? Have your say in the comments.
Juan Mata
Age: 32
Man Utd appearances (goals): 267 (50)
Option to extend contract for another season: Yes
Juan Mata has been a loyal servant to Manchester United and must decide whether to spend the twilight years of his playing career at Old Trafford or seek a fresh - and likely final - challenge before hanging up his boots.
The Spanish playmaker has enjoyed a glittering career at club and international level and has scooped FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League winners' medals since joining United from Chelsea for £37million in 2014.
Mata has earned himself plenty of admirers over the years and Serie A giants Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan are touted as potential destinations this summer.
There is, of course, the option to extend his stay with United for another season but neither the player nor manager Solskjaer have shown much desire to do so.
"I’m not surprised that teams are interested in him," said Solskjaer last month. "One, he’s a very good footballer, two he’s a fantastic professional and human being.
"When the contracts are running towards the end there will be interest, I’m sure Juan has been able to speak to other clubs if he wants to.
"I keep in touch with him all the time anyway, we have a good dialogue."
Mata has been a dependable performer throughout Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure but has been missing since late February with an unspecified muscle injury.
He has found game time hard to come by this season and the competition for minutes in attacking midfield or on the right wing has only increased with the January arrival of Amad.
As such, it seems unlikely Mata will extend his stay with United, and he may pursue a move to Italy this sumer.
Sergio Romero
Age: 34
Man Utd appearances (goals): 61 (0)
Option to extend contract for another season: Yes
Once considered the best of all the back-up goalkeepers in the Premier League, Sergio Romero has endured a dramatic fall from grace this season.
The Argentine made 17 appearances as David de Gea's deputy last season, playing a key role in Manchester United's progression to the semi-finals of the Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
But Dean Henderson's return to Old Trafford last summer relegated Romero to third-choice shot-stopper and left him pushing for an exit.
While he was heavily linked with a move to Everton as deadline day loomed, the transfer never materialised and Romero's wife lashed out at the Red Devils for "disrespecting" her husband.
Romero was left out of United's Premier League and European squads and has even spent some of the season training in his native country ahead of a likely summer move to Boca Juniors - where he could link up with Rojo and Cavani.
As it stands, it is impossible to see the Red Devils activating the one-season extension in Romero's contract and he appears certain to leave after six years of service.
Lee Grant
Age: 38
Man Utd appearances (goals): 2 (0)
Option to extend contract for another season: Yes
The fourth and final player whose Manchester United contract expires this summer is veteran goalkeeper Lee Grant.
The Englishman arrived from Stoke in 2018 for £1.5million and has only been called on twice since then, coming off the bench after Romero was sent off in a Carabao Cup third-round tie with Derby that year, and starting the 2-1 loss at Astana in the Europa League last season.
Though his appearances are few and far between, Grant is considered an important member of the squad and Solskjaer has praised him for his professionalism.
Meanwhile, the former Derby man has regularly claimed he would like to become a coach and has already taken on some duties at United's Carrington base.
Grant insists he can continue as a goalkeeper for another season but is willing to pursue a more serious coaching role if that is not possible, having stepped up during the club's coronavirus outbreak last month.
“I’m not that far away from having to make a decision over what I want to do,” Grant told talkSPORT . “I’m fit enough and well enough where it would be rude not to keep going.
“If Manchester United would love to have me around for another year, that would be a wonderful outcome for me. I’m certainly enjoying my time at the club, they’ve been tremendous with me.
“If not, I’m up for whatever else is available. We had a bit of a Covid crisis in terms of our staffing (against Newcastle ), so I had to muck in with the staff.
“I was our goalkeeper coach for the night – I took on full goalkeeping coaching duties, which I loved. I enjoy doing that and I know the staff and players enjoy having me around.”
Grant has been named on the bench in the cup competitions this season and United may be keen to prolong his stay with Romero almost definitely departing this summer.
Although there is no option to extend included in his current contract, Grant is clearly keen on a new deal and it should not prove difficult to facilitate.
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
