Jose Mourinho confident Marouane Fellaini will sign new Manchester United contract and stay at Old Trafford

Mourinho gave his clearest indication yet that Fellaini will be a United player next season

Jose Mourinho believes Marouane Fellaini is close to signing a new contract with Manchester United but claims there is still work to do on any prospective deal.

Fellaini scored a stoppage-time winning header on Sunday to seal United’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal and secure Champions League football for next season.

The Belgian’s current Old Trafford contract is set to expire at the end of the season despite months of negotiations between the club and Fellaini’s representatives over renewed terms.

After the final whistle on Sunday, Mourinho gave the clearest indication yet that Fellaini could still be a United player next year by suggesting that a deal was “almost” in place with the midfielder.

However, the United manager will only celebrate retaining the 30-year-old’s services once an agreement is written down in black and white.

“The position is that we are almost there but in football almost is not enough,” Mourinho said. “We are almost there but I can’t celebrate because almost is not enough.

“I want to see the white paper with the United’s crest and Ed Woodward’s signature and Marouane’s signature.”

Mourinho added: “I think a player that grabs the crest after scoring is telling clearly that he wants to stay. I want him to stay, the club wants him to stay, I think he will stay, it is nearly there.”