Jesse Lingard's new and improved contract has raised some eyebrows, but Jose Mourinho believes it is a "very important" deal for Manchester United.
A late bloomer at Old Trafford, the 24-year-old established himself in the first-team under Louis van Gaal last season after several loan spells.
The past year has seen Lingard score in United's FA Cup, EFL Cup and Community Shield triumphs, as well as establishing himself as a member of the England national team.
That progress led United to agree a new and improved deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2021, with the option for a further year.
The reported £100,000-a-week wages have shocked some onlookers, but Mourinho believes it is an important deal to wrap up .
"No, I think he is a good player already," Mourinho said when asked if Lingard was different to any preconceptions.
"And because of his age and because of his happiness in the work, I think he has conditions to be even better.
"Apart from that, English, made in the academy - very important for the club these players made at home - so it is a very important contract.
"And I congratulate him and obviously the board to agree with him and to give this stability also for me because it is important for me to know that he is not in danger, that he is in a situation under our control."
While Lingard's United career is on an upward trajectory, Adnan Januzaj's appears to be heading in the opposite direction.
After making such an impressive Old Trafford breakthrough, the 22-year-old has spent this season on loan at Sunday's opponents Sunderland.
Januzaj will be unavailable to face his parent club this weekend and Mourinho says a decision has been made on his long-term future, but would not outline those plans.
Asked if he has decided what he was going to do with the attacking midfielder at the end of the season, Mourinho simply said: "Yes. I have decided. (Can I say what it is?) Not to you."
Januzaj is not the only player whose United future is up in the air, with captain Wayne Rooney's future likely to dominate the conversation in the coming months.
The 31-year-old missed the midweek draw against former club Everton with what Mourinho said was pain in both ankles and will be one of five first-team absentees at the Stadium of Light.
"Wayne Rooney is not available," the manager said.
"Ashley Young is injured and no more news because (Juan) Mata, (Chris) Smalling and (Phil) Jones you already know that we are speaking about long-term injuries."
Mourinho spent much of the open press conference answering a question about United's home struggles after drawing their ninth league game at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The United boss spent just shy of four minutes discussing the matter and their form overall, saying their 20-match unbeaten league run bodes well for next season.
While Mourinho aims for the Premier League title next year, the man sacked by United three years ago this month appears to be heading to the Championship.
David Moyes struggled to fill the huge void left by Sir Alex Ferguson and is now in charge of a Sunderland side 10 points adrift of safety, while the Football Association is looking at his threat to ''slap'' a female reporter.
"I have sympathy with every manager that is fighting hard to reach the objectives and he is in trouble to do it," Mourinho said.
"In the whole season, it happened with so many of us. In the end, there is one team that is going to be champions, there are three teams that are going to be relegated.
"But everyone is a good professional, everyone gives everything, everyone fights all season - some of us we are sacked in the middle of the season.
"It is difficult for everyone so of course I have sympathy that's normal."
Source: PA
