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Manchester United will wait until the summer before offering new deals to most of the players who will be out of contract in 2016, sources have told ESPN FC. Robin van Persie leads a list of players who have entered the last 18 months of their current deals at Old Trafford, including Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling, Rafael da Silva and Ashley Young. David De Gea's agent Jorge Mendes recently confirmed that he is in negotiations with United about an extended contract for the goalkeeper, who will be available on a free transfer next year if none is agreed. Javier Hernandez, Anders Lindegaard and Nick Powell complete the group of 10 United players who are tied to the club until 2016. Together they cost over £100 million but while United run the risk of losing all without receiving a fee, the probability is that they will be negotiating from a position of strength. The former Premier League champions will be in an enviable financial position so many would have to take a pay cut to leave Old Trafford and for most, a move elsewhere would be a step down. United face a summer decision about the three senior centre-backs manager Louis van Gaal inherited with Jones, Evans and Smalling all nearing the end of their deals. The Dutchman has already signed one central defender, in Marcos Rojo, and is expected to add another in the next transfer window. Smalling was in the starting XI for United's last game, the 3-1 win at Preston, when Evans was an unused substitute while Jones was in the team before suffering an ankle injury in the victory over Burnley. Right-back Rafael has lost his place under Van Gaal and has not started a league game since October but Young, who has returned to favour under the new manager, is more likely to get an extension. Joint top scorer Van Persie, 31, cost £24 million when he joined from Arsenal in 2012 and has delivered 58 goals in 86 starts for the club -- although he admitted in January that his future was "uncertain" -- while Hernandez, a 2010 arrival, is on loan at Real Madrid this season. Goalkeeper Lindegaard is yet to make a first-team appearance under Van Gaal and has lost his place on the bench since the signing of Victor Valdes on a free transfer, while midfielder Powell has only played once under the Dutchman, in the 4-0 defeat to MK Dons. United vice-captain Michael Carrick is out of contract this summer, though he is expected to be offered a new deal.
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