‘Happy’ Ander will snub Barca to remain a Red

ANDER Herrera is happy at United and intent on remaining at the club next season despite speculation surrounding a possible transfer to Barcelona.

New Barca coach Ernesto Valverde was Herrera’s Athletic Bilbao manager when he joined United for £29m in 2014 and the Catalan club have supposedly shown interest in signing Herrera.

The 27-year-old’s United contract expires in 2018 – although the club have the option of extending it by an additional year – and he is expected to be offered an improved deal.

M.E.N. Sport understands Herrera is ‘very happy’ at United after establishing himself as a key player under Jose Mourinho and winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award during a campaign in which he attained his first Spain cap.

Herrera is believed to be already looking forward to improving on United’s EFL Cup and Europa League-winning campaign amid calls from supporters for him to inherit the captaincy from Wayne Rooney.

The Basque is settled in Manchester with his partner and infant daughter, while he enjoys an excellent rapport with Mourinho and his coaching staff.

Herrera was named man-of-thematch in pressure fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea last season and received the same accolade for the Europa League final victory over Ajax.

Afterward the win, Herrera spoke eloquently about the terrorist attack on Manchester and dedicated the win to the victims.