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Manchester United maintained the 11-point gap at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. The crucial away win keeps United in the race for the crown, although their rivals and neighbours, City look unstoppable.
As pundits and experts lambasted the recruitment system at the club, Mourinho will have a hard job on his hands during the January transfer window.
Mourinho recently claimed there could be a few players leaving the club in the January transfer window. The club has many first-team players who are on the verge leaving the club on a free transfer, as their contracts expire at the end season.
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Here, we take a look at 5 Manchester United players, whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season:
#5 Ander Herrera
Spanish and Manchester United central midfielder, Ander Herrera has found it hard to break into the starting eleven since the addition of Nemanja Matic to the ranks at the club.
United's club player of the season for the last campaign, Herrera has played a lot of minutes for the club this season, although when the likes of Paul Pogba and Matic are available for a game, the Spaniard is likely to be left out.
With his contract coming to an end in June 2018, the former Bilbao player has a clause in his contract that gives the club an option to extend the deal for another year. However, United haven't moved to secure the services of the player and still lists as a possible free agent at the end of the summer.
The Spaniard signed with Manchester United from Bilbao in 2014 and has become a fan favourite in his short time at the club. With a number of clubs after the fiery, clever, tricky Herrera, United have to act quickly to re-sign the player or he could very well leave the club.
#4 Luke Shaw
England and Manchester United left-back, Luke Shaw joined the club from Southampton in 2014 for a large fee making him the most expensive teenage footballer at the time. 3 years on, and Shaw has had a treacherous time at the club so far with injuries hampering his career.
With his contract coming to end at the end of the season, Shaw's contract can be extended by a year, provided Shaw does enough this campaign to impress the manager. Shaw will be an outside hopeful to make the England squad for the WC, as he has failed to make substantial appearances at club level.
Shaw has played in just a single Premier League game, a single UEFA Champions League game and a couple of EFL Cup games so far this season.
However, still only 22-years-old, Shaw could be one for the future provided United stick with the Englishman through these hard years.
#3 Marouane Fellaini
The Belgian and Manchester United midfielder continues to remain a divisive figure among the club faithful and football fans alike. Known for his ball retention ability and aerial threat, he is used as a utility player at the club.
The 30-year-old is eager for consistent playing time and might opt to leave United in January or in the summer for free.
With his contract running out in the summer, it would make sense for the club to cash in on him and invest the funds in a defensive midfielder who could be at the club for a number of years. However, Mourinho is keen to hold onto the player as he can be impact player against any side.
The Belgian will have a number of suitors looking to acquire his services in January and in the summer and will be interesting to see how United deal with the issue.
#2 Daley Blind
While Daley Blind has started in all of United's UEFA Champions League games this term, he has started only 3 Premier League games so far this season. With a number of defensive injuries this season, he could get more playing time.
With his contract out in the summer of 2018, Blind might move away from United for free in the summer and also secure adequate game-time at another club.
The 27-year-old at United has only been deployed in the backline as a centre-half or a left-back as Mourinho prefers specialists rather than versatile players, although it's clear he is a fan of the latter trait.
Blind's work-rate and positional awareness have been questioned off late and while he seems to be an assured figure on the ball, he could be let go by the manager in January in order to make some money off the player.
#1 Juan Mata
Spanish and Manchester United attacking midfielder, Juan Mata is in his final year at the club as his contract comes to end in the summer of 2018. The 29-year-old might be allowed to leave the club for free at the end of the season, with Andreas Pereira possibly being the player who fits as a suitable option to replace Mata.
An important first-team player for United, Mata can help split open deep-lying defences with a single pass and is a very effective attacking option. Having scored a goal and recorded three assists so far this season, Mata has found regular time in the manager's rotation policy.
The Spaniard joined United from Chelsea in 2014 for a large fee in the region of £40m, and It will be interesting to see how Mourinho's deals with the next two transfer markets as United will be in for a complete overhaul this summer.
