MANCHESTER -- Jose Mourinho has told Marouane Fellaini to "sign the contract and shut up" instead of risking his future by running down his current deal.
The Manchester United midfielder is yet to agree new terms at Old Trafford and could walk away for free at the end of the season.
But Mourinho insists the 30-year-old is taking a risk with the stand-off, especially now he has been ruled out with a knee injury.
"I told him yesterday, sign the contract and shut up," Mourinho joked at his news conference on Friday. "I told him, don't gamble too much. Sign the contract before you know the extent of the injury."
Fellaini lasted just seven minutes during United's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday after coming on as a second-half substitute and almost immediately hobbling off.
He will miss Huddersfield's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday and Mourinho revealed on Friday that early indications suggest he will be ruled out for "a few weeks."
Sources have told ESPN FC Fellaini turned down a contract offer from United in September.
He has been able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside England since Jan. 1 amid interest from Turkey and Italy.
Mourinho has said repeatedly he would like him to stay but sources have told ESPN FC the Belgian is looking for a longer deal than is currently on the table.