Options exercised in four United Women contracts

Gabby George, Lisa Naalsund, Elisabeth Terland and Ella Toone are now all under contract with the club until at least the end of next season.

While verifying the recent media reports in his pre-match press conference earlier, ahead of the weekend's trip to Arsenal, Skinner also suggested work is being done behind the scenes to keep the aforementioned players at United for longer.

“The club always, in part of their contract conversations, always add option years in. It’s the same in my contract,” Marc began, when asked if he could confirm that options in the contracts of the quartet had been taken up over the course of the winter break.

“The reality is that it gives both parties that conversation peace at the end of that, but the reason we’ve done that [exercised the options] is it gives you that window to negotiate for potential new contracts.

“So, it’s always going to be the way, it was always the way with those four players. Those are four players we’re having constant conversations with behind the scenes, and Matt [Johnson, director of women's football] and the team are working hard on that.

“So, they’ve been fantastic for us and the club will continue to work to find solutions for extensions, hopefully, for them.”

Confirming exactly when the exercised options run to, Skinner then added: “All of them are under contract [now until next summer].

“I’ve seen reports that they’re all out in the summer and we’re losing these players. No, they’re all under contract.

“You have to take it by a certain point so teams abroad can’t have conversations [about signing them]. Those players are all under contract now for another 18 months.”