Manchester United fear losing Marouane Fellaini for free next summer as contract talks stall

The club want to keep the Belgian at Old Trafford and tie him down to a new contract

(Getty)

Manchester United fear Marouane Fellaini could leave the club for free next summer with contract talks remaining at an impasse.

The Belgian, who was a divisive figure in his early days at Old Trafford following his £27.5m move from Everton, has grown into a key member of Jose Mourinho's squad with United keen to keep him at Old Trafford and reward him for his upturn in form.

Fellaini's performances led United to trigger the one-year contract extension in his contract at the start of the year - but extending his deal beyond next summer is proving much tougher.

The club want to tie the 29-year-old down to a long-term deal but the player himself is eager for more playing time with negotiations proving difficult as a result.

Foreign clubs can agree pre-contract terms with Fellaini from January, with Galatasaray, Besiktas and Valencia all understood to be interested.

United have no intention of selling in the winter window leaving Fellaini, with the choice of signing a fresh deal now or running down his contact and leaving for nothing at the end of the season.