Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson has told the club to do all that they can to tie Ander Herrera down to a new contract.

The Spaniard is due to become a free agent at the end of the season and is a confirmed target for former club Athletic Bilbao.

Herrera is expected to have a pick of more top clubs to choose from should he be available on a Bosman, but United are believed to be locked in discussions with the 29-year-old regarding a new deal.

Robson believes that the central midfielder deserves fresh terms for his performances since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho, with Herrera being used heavily alongside Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic over the last seven weeks.

"I'd definitely keep hold of Herrera," he told the Manchester Evening News. "I don't think it's any coincidence that since Ander got back in the team, everybody has been talking about [Anthony] Martial and Marcus Rashford and Pogba, but I think Herrera has played really well since he came into the team.

"Because he's playing week in, week out, he's a lot sharper than when he was coming into the team for maybe one game and then he was on the bench. I think playing regularly has brought the best out of Ander."

Herrera has played a direct part in five Premier League goals for United this season.