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Manchester United must trigger an extension clause in Antonio Valencia's contract in the next 24 hours or risk losing the right-back for free this summer.

Valencia, whose current deal runs out in July, has been restricted to just five Premier League appearances this season by injury.

He will celebrate a decade at Old Trafford this summer but was criticised by former boss Jose Mourinho for being out of shape at the start of the season.

The Ecuadorian has played only once since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Mourinho in December, and earlier this week the Norwegian confirmed that Valencia had suffered a recurrence of the calf strain that has troubled him this term.

(Image: EMPICS SPORT)

Diogo Dalot was signed last summer as United planned for a future without Valencia and the Telegraph reported that the club have until Friday to to trigger the 33-year-old's extension clause.

Should the club decide to take up the option it would tie Valencia to Old Trafford until 2020 and give United the option to cash in on him during the summer.

The Ecuadorian would have no shortage of suitors were he to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, with West Ham understood to be among those interested in the right-sided player.