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Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Gaetan Bong. Image Credit: REUTERS

Manchester: Manchester United are hopeful a breakthrough has been achieved in negotiations with Marouane Fellaini and that the midfielder will make a U-turn and sign a new contract.

The 30-year-old’s deal expires at the end of this month and he is understood to have told several of his Belgium teammates at the World Cup that he will agree fresh terms.

Fellaini had been expected to leave United after refusing to sign the new terms offered to him last September. The player has stated he will announce his future on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho has been intent on keeping Fellaini, though if United’s manager does prove successful in doing so this may dismay some fans who continue to be critical of him.

Fellaini is thought to earn around 120,000 pounds a week after United triggered a one-year extension in January 2017 and raised his salary from 80,000 pounds a week. He had wanted a marked increase on these terms.