Manchester United set to hand Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young new improved deals

Manchester United have reportedly started talks to extend the contracts of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young.

According to the Mirror, the trio, who enter the final-year of their contracts at the end of the current campaign have impressed Louis van Gaal in recent months and are in line to get new improved deals.

Jones and Smalling have missed quite a bit of the season due to injury as both have made just 17 and 18 appearances in the Premier League respectively, but after an initial struggle both the defenders have put in some assured performances in recent games, especially in United's recent wins against Tottenham and Liverpool.

These performances have impressed the manager and this has prompted the club to open talks with the defenders' representatives over extending their current deals.

On the other hand, the future of Young's Old Trafford career looked to be on its final stages following the arrival of Van Gaal and the signing on Angel di Maria. However, the English winger has turned his fortunes around and put in some match winning performances for the Red Devils in his new wing-back role, which has elicited high praise from the manager.

"He [Ashley Young] is a player who wants to perform what you say. I think he fits good in my profile. We have played also with wing-backs and I think that is his best position. Now I use him as a winger and he does a very good job. I am pleased with him," Van Gaal said.

The report claims that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has opened talks with the players' representatives and will offer them three to four-year extensions on their current deals.

The club are in the process of tying down all the key players to new deals, and recently handed midfielder Michael Carrick a one-year extension on his current contract.