Ander Herrera is close to signing a new contract with Manchester United after Ashley Young agreed a one-year extension at Old Trafford.

United have been in talks with representatives of both players since last year in the knowledge that Herrera and Young would be free agents at the end of this season.

Herrera, a £29million signing from Athletic Bilbao in 2014, is very keen to stay at the club having re-established himself as a first-choice starter alongside Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic.

Spaniard Ander Herrera has almost agreed fresh contract terms with Manchester United

It’s understood that negotiations are progressing well and the 29-year-old Spaniard is ready to commit his future to United.

Asked about his contract situation following Sunday’s win at Leicester, Herrera said: ‘If I deserve it, I will get it.

‘I got the player of the year two years ago and, I cannot lie, I feel very good at the moment. I feel in form, I can run a lot and recover the ball and I feel good when I have it at my feet.’ 

Young has decided to extend his United career into a ninth season despite interest from the Premier League and foreign clubs including Inter Milan who were hoping to a sign him on a free transfer in the summer.

Ashley Young will remain at Manchester United despite interest from a number of other clubs

The 33-year-old wanted a longer deal but it’s understood that a 12-month extension has been agreed and will be announced shortly.

Young, a £17m signing from Aston Villa in 2011, remains an integral part of United’s first team on and off the pitch.

He is valued highly by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as well as Jose Mourinho before him, as a leader in the dressing-room and a figure who underlines to his teammates the standards expected at United.

However, Juan Mata’s future remains up in the air as the clock counts down on the final five months of his contract at United.

Juan Mata’s future remains up in the air as he has only five months left on his Old Trafford deal

The 30-year-old Spaniard is said to be happier at the club since Solskjaer replaced Mourinho in December, but is concerned over his lack of game time.

Mata has started only four of Solskjaer’s 10 games in charge as the caretaker boss has leant towards a more explosive front three of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial.

Having signed Martial to a new five-year contract last week, United have confirmed that initial talks have begun with Rashford’s representatives.

However, they are relaxed about the situation because the young England striker’s current deal runs until the end of next season, and United have the option to extend it by another year.

Glenn Murray came off the bench in extra-time to prod the ball over the line with his first touch and nudge Brighton into round five.

It was a goal that went in via Murray’s groin, the Brighton striker showing once again that knack for being in the right place as Jurgen Locadia’s cross bounced his way off Ahmed Hegazi.

Murray then added another four minutes from time, finishing well after being found by Davy Propper. West Brom were down to ten men at that stage, as Hal Robson-Kanu had gone off injured and Darren Moore had used all four substitutes. 

Brighton beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 after extra time in an FA Cup fourth round replay

Substitute Glenn Murray was the difference between the sides with two goals in extra time

No 5 Kyle Bartley put West Brom ahead in usual fashion on 77 minutes from very close range

Brighton’s Florin Andone equalised to set up extra time and celebrated by clenching his fists

It should have been Brighton playing a man down for most of the match but Florin Andone got a lucky reprieve for a first-half elbow then landed a fairer blow to send the tie into extra-time.

The Romanian forward took advantage of sloppy West Brom defending with eight minutes left of normal time to drive a finish underneath Jonathan Bond.

It was an entirely avoidable equaliser from a West Brom perspective, with Kyle Bartley’s loose pass and Craig Dawson’s slip proving costly.

Bartley had only put his team in front three minutes earlier with one of the most bizarre goals this competition has seen.

Leon Balogun inexplicably stepped back from wrestling Bartley as a high ball fell following Wes Hoolahan’s free-kick, freeing the West Brom defender to hook it over the line from the other side of the post. Brighton had thought Bartley was offside but Dan Burns had played the ball.

Andone may have helped set up a tie with Derby but he can expect an FA charge for driving his elbow into Sam Field’s jaw as West Brom versus Brighton once again developed an edge.

Referee Paul Tierney cannot have seen the severity of Andone’s actions because he took no disciplinary action as Field lay on the floor, blood trickling from his mouth.

VAR was in use for the first game of this FA Cup tie, but not at the Hawthorns last night, so no immediate remedy could be made for Andone’s heinous act, which came as the ball bounced in the middle of the pitch. Field’s hand had brushed against Adone’s face in the first aerial duel, seemingly triggering a reaction from the Brighton forward who should now be banned for the next three games. 

Brighton’s No 14, Leon Balogun, hit the West Brom crossbar with a headed effort in the first half

Hal Robson-Kanu (second left) struck the crossbar at the other end with a shot from long range

West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez (left) fired in a very powerful shot with his right foot

Striker Andone (left) was lucky to stay on the pitch after his elbow struck the face of Sam Field

West Brom midfielder Field fell to the ground and held his face after the 27th-minute clash

This game already carried an element of animosity as Jay Rodriguez was making first appearance against Brighton since allegations of racism were made against him by Gaetan Bong. The FA found the charge unproven after a lengthy process but Brighton fans aimed boos and chants against the West Brom striker every time he touched the ball.

Before being substituted at half-time Rodriguez did go close to silencing the jeers, drawing two good saves from David Button. Bong himself was booed when coming on as a late substitute, in wholly unnecessary scenes.

As far as the action went, Bond was the busier goalkeeper. He stopped Yves Bissouma’s drive from distance and a fierce hit by Viktor Gyokeres. From that corner Balogun hit the bar with a free header.

Andone then combined with Anthony Knockaert before firing wide.

Hal Robson-Kanu clipped the bar with a swerving volley after Rodriguez’s knockdown and Andone thought he had scored a fine header only to see the offside flag raised.

After the interval Bond saved from Alireza Jahanbakhsh. Brighton wanted a penalty when Tyrone Mears dived in to tackle Jahanbakhsh but Tierney waved away appeals. Chris Hughton had every right to feel aggrieved in that instance at least. But his team prevailed in the end.

Field was attended to by a member of medical staff on the field but he eventually played on

West Brom opened the scoring from a set-piece when Bartley reacted and Balogun did not

Defender Bartley was mobbed by his team-mates as West Brom celebrated taking the lead

But West Brom were in front for less than five minutes before Brighton No 10 Andone levelled

Sub Murray turned the game in Brighton’s favour with two goals — on 104 and 117 minutes