According to Metro, Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is open to offers from other clubs in January with the Red Devils having failed so far to offer him an agreeable new contract.

What’s the story?

According to the aforementioned report, Herrera would prefer to remain at Old Trafford, but is disappointed with the club’s lack of urgency surrounding his rapidly expiring contract. The Spaniard’s current deal runs out at the end of the season.

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Jose Mourinho would like for the versatile midfielder to stay, but does not directly deal with contract negotiations himself, meaning Herrera’s future could be out of his hands. With the 29-year-old still waiting on a new deal, he could be enticed by offers to join a new club as a free agent next summer.

If Herrera’s contract situation fails to resolve itself before then, Chelsea should offer the Spain international a way of remaining in the Premier League.

Kovacic replacement

If the Blues fail to make Mateo Kovacic’s move to Stamford Bridge a permanent one at the end of this season, then signing Herrera on a free transfer from a top domestic rival would be the perfect way to replace the Croatian. 

Whilst the United man isn’t a creator in the same mould as Kovacic, he is a player of high technical ability and his hard working nature would be a real asset to Maurizio Sarri’s engine room. On top of that, Herrera is capable of providing a goal threat from midfield - something that Chelsea may find themselves lacking with Kovacic gone.

Considering the London club may be able to land Herrera - a top class player with lots of elite level experience and still in his prime - on a free transfer, making him their prime target to replace Kovacic makes perfect sense.