MANCHESTER, England -- Jose Mourinho is hopeful Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw will agree new contracts to stay at Manchester United.
The club triggered one-year extensions for each of the trio last season to keep them at Old Trafford until the summer. However, if fresh terms are not agreed by January they will be able to start negotiating pre-contract agreements with clubs outside England but Mourinho is hopeful that will not be necessary.
"I hope they will stay," Mourinho told a news conference on Friday. "We had a similar conversation last season about Marouane [Fellaini] and I was always saying I hope he stays, I believe he stays. I say the same. I hope they stay. Of course, I am happy with the players.
"Luke's evolution made us believe he goes in the right direction and of course I want to keep him.
"Juan and Ander, even if they are not playing or not playing a lot, not starting matches, by the personality point-of-view and character point-of-view, by what they represent in the modern society in football, they are almost unique pieces that I also don't want to lose."
United are also keen to tie down David De Gea and Anthony Martial with new deals.
They have one year remaining on their current contracts and the club hold options to extend each by another season. Talks have started with both players over new five-year deals Shaw, meanwhile, has not travelled with the squad to Watford.
The left-back was a doubt for the game after suffering a head injury on international duty with England and medical staff have decided the clash at Vicarage Road on Saturday evening is too early for his return.
Fellaini is in line to feature despite withdrawing from the Belgium squad with a back injury.