Transfer Centre

Erik ten Hag 'wants one-year contract extension for Jonny Evans'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 31 December 2023

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reportedly wants to keep 35-year-old defender Jonny Evans at Old Trafford for another 12 months.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reportedly wants to see Jonny Evans handed a new one-year contract at Old Trafford.

Following his departure from Leicester City at the end of their doomed 2022-23 season, Evans donned the Man United jersey again during their pre-season campaign to provide defensive cover.

Evans was initially not expected to remain with Ten Hag's troupe once the summer friendly schedule was done and dusted, but having been impressed with his displays and attitude, Ten Hag sanctioned a short-term deal for the Northern Ireland international.

Since making a sensational return to the Theatre of Dreams, where he was initially on the books from 2004 to 2015, Evans has been a regular for Ten Hag, making 15 appearances and providing one assist in all tournaments.

With Raphael Varane falling out of favour and Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof all struggling with injuries, Evans's acquisition on a free transfer has proven to be a shrewd move from Old Trafford chiefs, and he has started nine Premier League games for Man United this term.

Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz in action with Manchester United's Jonny Evans on November 4, 2023 © Reuters

Evans has played the full 90 in each of the Red Devils' last four Premier League games, helping his team keep an unexpected clean sheet away to Liverpool, although Ten Hag's men returned to losing ways against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Evans's short-term deal with the 20-time English champions will expire at the end of the season, though, leaving him free to open talks with foreign clubs over a pre-contract agreement from Monday onwards.

With Man United believed to be targeting defensive reinforcements in 2024, Evans's future has been called into question, but according to the Daily Star, Ten Hag would approve another extension for the veteran centre-back.

As well as Evans's experience and leadership on the pitch, Ten Hag is said to value the 35-year-old's presence in the dressing room and has been convinced to keep him on the books until the summer of 2025.

However, any contract extension will have to be given the green light by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos consortium, who will be taking over footballing operations at Old Trafford once their 25% purchase has been ratified by the Premier League.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts on December 26, 2023 © Reuters

It is unclear at this juncture whether Ratcliffe wants to prolong Evans's stay at Old Trafford, although Ten Hag recently insisted that he has the backing of Man United's new stakeholder.

Across his two spells in Manchester, Evans has played 213 matches for the Red Devils in all tournaments, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists since making his debut in 2007.

Evans's hopes of a renewal would be boosted if Man United lose Varane at some point in 2024, as the Frenchman was heavily linked with Bayern Munich and clubs in Saudi Arabia after being demoted to the bench.

Varane's former teams Real Madrid and Lens are also rumoured to be keeping a close eye on his situation, but the 30-year-old is supposedly hopeful that his deal will be extended too.