MAROUANE FELLAINI is demanding big bucks to stay at Manchester United.
The midfielder is out of contract in the summer and Manchester United fear they will have to hand him a big pay rise to get him to stay, according to the Sun.
Initial talks over a new contract have started and the 29-year-old is keen to stay, but wants paying what he’s worth.
Fellaini has been important in recent weeks with Paul Pogba injured.
The former Everton ace scored twice in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace making it four for the season.
An Old Trafford source told the Sun: “There is a fear that Marouane will only stay here with a major pay increase.
“He is on good money already, but feels he has a worth. They are in a difficult spot with him out of contract next summer.
“The club already took out their 12-month option to extend his deal back in January, so it’s proving difficult.
“He wants to stay by all accounts, but has seen the club hand big money in recent seasons to new arrivals.”
Jose Mourinho is a huge fan of Fellaini and feels more comfortable when he’s an option.
He’s admitted to feeling weaker without him and would like him to stay particularly with Michael Carrick likely to leave in the summer.
“I have examples of players that didn’t perform well with me and then they performed well with other managers,” he said after the win over Palace.
“Marouane is just the fact I think he has important qualities and I try to use these qualities depending of the situation, depending of the team’s needs.
“He played with me as defensive midfield player, as second striker, he played with me like today in one of the double midfield players, adapted to the needs of the team.
“He’s a team player, a great character, we have a good relation and things are going really between us.
“I think only a strong character would resist the difficulties here because he had some difficult times where people didn’t recognise his qualities where probably other managers didn’t like so much the qualities that he has, so you have to be a strong character.
“He’s a fighter, a guy with lots of pride, I’m really pleased I helped him to reach this and to change the perception the fans have now, I’m really happy for him.”
Source:www.express.co.uk