Exclusive: Manchester United offer midfielder £125,000-a-week deal

Exclusive: Manchester United offer midfielder £125,000-a-week deal

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By North-west correspondent Alex Stevens

Manchester United have offered a new 12-month contract to Michael Carrick, Football Insider sources understand.

The 34-year-old England international has remained a key member of the team despite the signings of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin last summer.

Carrick is out of contract in the summer but a United source has told Football Insider that manager Louis van Gaal has recommended that the club tie their second longest-serving player to a new deal.

The midfielder has attracted interest from clubs in the US, including LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, and could move to the MLS at the end of the season.

Carrick, who turns 35 in June, has made 23 appearances for United this season, 16 of which have been starts.

Van Gaal has predominantly rotated Carrick, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin between the two central midfield positions, bar a few run-outs for Marouane Fellaini. It was the Belgian who partnered Carrick in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Stoke.

Centre court: Van Gaal has recommended a new deal for Carrick
Centre court: Van Gaal has recommended a new deal for Carrick

Carrick sustained an ankle injury on international duty in November but has generally stayed clear of serious injury this season.

Van Gaal and his assistant Ryan Giggs are big admirers of the veteran midfielder and want to extend his current £125,000-a-week deal, which expires at the end of June.

Carrick joined United from Tottenham for £18million in 2006 and his 10-year spell at Old Trafford is bettered among the current squad only by Wayne Rooney, who moved to the club 12 months earlier.

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