Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw all come out of contract at the end of the 2026-27 season. Sky Sports laid out the four cases on Thursday, and the warning signs around each are different enough that United cannot solve them with one decision.

Fernandes is the most urgent name on that list. Talks between the Portugal international and the club have reached an impasse, according to reporting from Ben Jacobs published a day before the Sky Sports update. United hold a 12-month option on the captain, but no extension has been agreed and the two sides are not close on terms.

Martinez does not want the option triggered

Lisandro Martinez is a different kind of problem. His deal also runs until June 2027 and United can trigger a one-year extension, but Yardbarker reports that the Argentina defender does not want the club to activate it. Negotiations on improved terms have stalled, leaving a 28-year-old centre-back who was supposed to be a cornerstone of the rebuild looking at an open door.

Maguire is the only one of the four whose situation is cleanly protected. His current deal, extended last year, runs until summer 2027 with a club option through 2028. The 33-year-old has started regularly under Carrick and the option gives United a decision rather than a deadline.

Read also: Virgil van Dijk reveals what Liverpool’s £123m signing is really like behind the scenes

Shaw has no option at all

Shaw is the pure walk-away risk. The 31-year-old left-back is the only one of the four whose contract contains no extension clause, meaning United cannot buy themselves time unilaterally. Yahoo Sports reports the club is now planning an extension of one year or at most two, while competing for a new left-back alongside him.

A problem that lands on Carrick

The timing is awkward because United’s head-coach situation is itself fragile. Michael Carrick was confirmed as permanent head coach in May 2026 on a two-year deal after a successful interim spell following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.

Not every midfield file is on fire. Kobbie Mainoo, whose previous deal had been due to expire in 2027, signed a new contract until 2031 after breaking into Carrick’s first team, taking one potential free-agent loss off the board.

That leaves the four names Sky Sports identified: a captain who is not signing, a defender who does not want to stay, a left-back without a safety clause, and a centre-back whose option is United’s to pull.

Read also: Lionel Messi’s numbers at 39 tell incredible story after latest Inter Miami win

Read also: Gael Monfils’ retirement takes surprise turn just weeks before planned goodbye