Manchester United are set to trigger the one-year extension in Edinson Cavani's contract and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to keeping him beyond the end of next season.
Cavani, 33, joined United on deadline day in October on a deal until the end of the current campaign with the option of an additional year that rests with the club.
The Uruguayan came on at half-time to assist Bruno Fernandes at Leicester on Boxing Day and lashed in United's winner in their Carabao Cup quarter-final victory at Everton last week.
United extended the contracts of Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic and Timothy Fosu-Mensah last January and, although Cavani has made just three starts, his four goals match principal centre forward Anthony Martial's haul and United are planning to retain him for next season.
"At the moment, it looks like he has a few years left in him," Solskjaer said. "So I wouldn’t say anything else. He has made a great impact when he has come here. Let’s focus on improving everyone but he has a few years left in him.
"He is definitely a starter. You don’t classify a player of that quality as anything else. We have plenty of starters, more than 11.
"That is the thing when you are at Man United. You should believe and trust in yourself. I trust him. We have good competition for places. He will probably start more games than he will not start."
Cavani turns 34 in February and is expected to be involved for Uruguay in the Copa America, due to be played between June 10-July 11, so he would likely miss the majority of pre-season.
Cavani inherited the number seven, cursed since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid in 2009, and after Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay and Alexis Sanchez flagged, the former Paris Saint-Germain marksman Cavani has looked the most assured in the fabled number.
"That was the first thing he asked me, if he could wear the number seven," Solskjaer added. "Obviously we are talking about the history of the shirt.
"When you think of the history of his career and the experience he has had, his personality from the chat I had with him and when I watched him before, I wasn’t in doubt that he could handle the number seven shirt.
"He is so meticulous and professional. His habits and everything about him show why he has had the career he has. Even at the age he is now he is one of the fittest players we have got."
