According to Metro, Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is willing to listen to offers away from Old Trafford in January after becoming exasperated with the delay in contract talks at United, and the 29-year-old must leave as soon as possible for his own benefit.

What's the story?

Herrera, rated at £27m by Transfermarkt, will be out of contract in the summer of 2019 having signed a four-year contract with the option of a one year extension, which he is currently in, when he signed for the Red Devils in 2014. However, Metro reports that his camp believed he would be offered a new deal as soon as the extension was triggered, but no offer has materialised.

If the club are yet to offer him a contract when January comes Herrera will be free to speak to other clubs and could sign a pre-contract agreement, allowing him to leave for free in the summer.

The central midfielder joined United from Athletic Bilbao and has since made 163 appearances for the club. He has also received two caps for Spain but was left out of Luis Enrique's squad for the upcoming game with England.

For his own good

There is no doubt that Herrera is a fantastic midfield player and could do the dirty work for a number of the top European clubs. However, his contract situation would suggest he is being taken for granted at United and the only game he has started for Jose Mourinho's side so far this season was the 3-0 defeat to Spurs, where for some unknown reason he was deployed by the Portuguese boss at centre-back.

The Spaniard was clearly out of position and his performance would have been an embarrassment for a player that holds such high standards. With at least five midfielders seemingly ahead of him at Old Trafford, it is time for Herrera to leave the club to get the playing time he deserves.

With the board and Mourinho both taking liberties with the 6ft man, he should agree what will be the easiest decision of his career by leaving in January.

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