Manchester United set to reward Javier Hernandez with new deal

Manchester United are ready to open contract talks with Javier Hernández following the club’s tour of the United States after earmarking the Mexican forward as next in line for a new deal following Chris Smalling’s decision to extend his Old Trafford contract.

Hernández, who scored 20 goals in 45 appearances during his first taste in English football last season with Manchester United, is on an extended break after representing Mexico in last month’s Gold Cup and is not due to return until Paul Scholes’ testimonial against New York Cosmos on Aug 5.

The 23 year-old has already been linked with Real Madrid - speculation rejected by his representatives - since the end of last season and, although there are no concerns within Old Trafford of ‘Chicharito’ being lured away by a rival club, United’s policy of recognising the progress of emerging stars is set to see him rewarded with a pay rise and extended deal.

A £7 million signing from Chivas de Guadalajara, Hernandez’s current four-year deal is understood to be structured to ensure renegotiation on the basis of appearances, with Sir Alex Ferguson admitting recently that the youngster exceeded all expectations last season.

England Under-21 defender Smalling, who arrived at United in a £12m move from Fulham last season, has committed himself to the club until the end of the 2015-16 season after signing an improved contract on Friday. The 21 year-old, who will link up with the United squad in Seattle next week after being given an extended holiday following the European Under-21 Championships, is believed to have secured a £40,000-a-week deal after impressing in his first season at the club.

“I am delighted Chris has signed a new contract,” said Ferguson. “He has been outstanding since joining us. He’s an extremely talented young defender, quick, strong and reads the game well.”

Chris Smalling signs new five-year deal with Manchester United

Defender Chris Smalling has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United. The improved contract is recognition of the 21-year-old's outstanding debut season, when he made 34 appearances and far exceeded the expectations of Sir Alex Ferguson following a ?7million summer move from Fulham. It was enough to secure him a first Premier League title medal.

New deal: Chris Smalling has committed his long-term future to Manchester United 'I am delighted Chris has signed a new contract,' said United boss Sir Alex  Ferguson. 'Chris has been outstanding since joining us from Fulham last year. 'He is an extremely talented young defender. He is quick, strong and reads the game well. He is a great asset to the team.'

Having been one of the few members of England's Under-21 squad to emerge with any credit from a disappointing European Championship campaign in Denmark last month, Smalling will return to United on Monday ahead of the flight to the United States for a five-match pre-season tour. Heads up: Smalling in action against Marseille last season The departures of long-serving duo Wes Brown and John O'Shea to Sunderland emphasise how much belief Ferguson has in Smalling, who has been joined at Old Trafford this summer by England U21 defensive partner Phil Jones.

'This is a great club and in the short time I have been here I have already achieved more than I could have ever expected to,' said the Londoner.'I am looking forward to a long and successful career at Manchester United.'  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEO'Shea looks to future with Sunderland after ending 13-year spell at Man United.

Eriksson To Offer Hargreaves A Lifeline?

Leicester boss Sven Goran Eriksson says that he could well be interested in giving a lifeline to former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves. Hargreaves is available on a free transfer after being released by United due to injury problems with his knees which tarnished his time at Old Trafford. Now the 30 year old has put himself on show on you tube to prove that he is fit enough to be taken on by another club. "I saw his videos and if he wants to come here I will open the door and stand and wait for him in the door," said Eriksson. "He's been very unlucky in recent years but if he's close to what he was he is a fantastic football player. "I haven't spoken to him for a while, maybe I should. "It's difficult to know what he wants to do when he's been away for a long time."

O'Shea Follows Brown To Sunderland

Manchester United defender John O'Shea followed team mate Wes Brown to Sunderland last night. The 30 year old signed a four year deal and became manager Steve Bruce’s eighth signing of the summer. Again, the see is undisclosed. O’Shea said: “Once I’d heard reports about the club and the people here, the ambitions and what the manager was all about, it was the only place for me.” Steve Bruce added: “John has been a solid, consistent part of United’s squad for well over a decade, which goes to show the fantastic pedigree of player we have signed. “He is a wonderful professional both on and off the field and his wealth of experience and versatility will be great attributes for us.”

John O'Shea looks to future with Sunderland

John O'Shea was persuaded to leave Manchester United by the prospect of exciting times ahead at Sunderland under manager Steve Bruce. The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international last night signed a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light for an undisclosed fee - understood to be in the region of ?5million - to end his long association with the Red Devils. O'Shea said: 'It was one of those things. I was there for 13 years and they were 13 fantastic years. Future boy: O'Shea is confident he can help build a bright future at the Stadium of Light 'But this is a nice new exciting chapter for me now and hopefully we can have good times with Sunderland like I had at Manchester United. 'When I spoke to Steve, the manager, and heard his ideas and the ambition he has shown this summer in the players he is signing and the improvements he wants to make at the club and the strides he wants to make to go forward, I am just looking forward to being a part of it now.'

O'Shea signed for the Black Cats just hours after former United team-mate Wes Brown, 31, had put pen to paper on a contract of the same length, again for an undisclosed fee thought to amount to ?1million. Sunderland made a joint bid of more than ?12million for the pair and midfielder Darron Gibson last month, although it has taken some time to push home their interest. Golden era: O'Shea enjoyed 13 highly successful seasons at Old Trafford In O'Shea's case, however, that was not indicative of any indecision on his part. He said: 'Once I heard reports about the club and the people here, the ambitions and what the manager is all about, it was the only place I was going to come to once I knew the deal was on the table and close to being done. 

'I had to wait a few weeks for the birth of my child - that's why it seems protracted, but it wasn't really, it was fairly straightforward, and I am delighted that it's all been done now.' O'Shea and Brown both boast a glittering array of winners' medals from their time at Old Trafford, but they join the Black Cats as Bruce attempts to make a push towards the upper reaches of the Barclays Premier League. Double deal: Wes Brown made the switch to Sunderland on the same day The Irishman, the manager's eighth summer signing to date, said: 'I am coming to Sunderland now after one of their most successful seasons in the Premier League, and always the aim with every team is to improve on the season before.

'That's what, I am sure, the manager will be drilling into us in pre-season, that we want to improve on the season before, and if we can do that, I'm sure the club and the fans will be delighted.' Bruce is hoping to land his ninth new acquisition today with Blackpool midfielder David Vaughan understood to have travelled to Wearside yesterday with a view to completing a free transfer move. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEMake mine a treble! Sunderland splurge nears ?30m as Brown, O'Shea and Vaughan sign upO'Shea follows Brown out of Old Trafford as Irishman signs four-year deal at SunderlandSir Alex hails 'great' Brown after long-serving defender leaves Manchester United for Sunderland All the latest Manchester United news, features and opinionAll the latest Sunderland news, features and opinion.

Outgoing United ace excited at Black Cats move

John O'Shea was persuaded to leave Manchester United by the prospect of exciting times ahead at Sunderland under manager Steve Bruce.

The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international has signed a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light for an undisclosed fee - understood to be in the region of £5million - to end his long association with the Red Devils.

O'Shea told SAFC TV: "It was one of those things. I was there for 13 years and they were 13 fantastic years.

"But this is a nice new exciting chapter for me now and hopefully we can have good times with Sunderland like I had at Manchester United.

"When I spoke to Steve, the manager, and heard his ideas and the ambition he has shown this summer in the players he is signing and the improvements he wants to make at the club and the strides he wants to make to go forward, I am just looking forward to being a part of it now."