Surprise Manchester United contract decision hints at transfer risk over two fan favourites

For a club boasting the kind of record of producing academy talent that Manchester United do, the idea they might need to consider contract decisions to fulfil Premier League and UEFA squad rules would normally sound fanciful.

But as they consider offering third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton a 12-month contract extension, there is a degree of pragmatism in the decision ahead of a summer when a number of academy players could see their future come into sharper focus.

There is sense in offering Heaton a deal into his 40s anyway. He is a reliable goalkeeper, with relatively low mileage in recent years, offers plenty of experience and is considered something of a dressing room leader at Carrington.

Having come through the ranks at the club more than two decades ago, he is also an academy graduate. That brings not only an understanding of how the club operates as well as an insight into the standards required under Sir Alex Ferguson, but also the status of a home grown player under Premier League and UEFA rules.

If United want to name a full 25-man squad in the Premier League next season, they must have eight players occupying home grown status (this season they had seven). To name a 25-man squad in a European competition, they also need eight home grown players, but four of those must be 'club-trained', which means they must have been on the club's books for at least three years between the age of 15 and 21.

This season, United occupied those four slots with Heaton, Dermot Mee, Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford. They named Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho on the B list, but could promote them to the A list to meet the club-trained criteria if required.

In the Premier League there are no rules about club-trained players, and