Manchester United's dressing room has been a fragile environment for many seasons, flip-flopping from positive to toxic many times throughout a single campaign. The current group of players have seen their antics spill out to the media on more than one occasion which only exaggerated the bad feeling around the club at the time.

However, the current mood around the camp is reportedly positive, which is undoubtedly a result of the squad's good form and league position, an upturn that can be credited to interim boss Michael Carrick.

The former United stalwart seemingly transformed a side who looked destined for mid-table mediocrity at Christmas, into an exciting team who have secured Champions League football with games to spare.

A positive dressing room leads to positive performances, and creating this culture isn't solely down to the person leading the side from the touchline. Experienced players can lead by example without playing a minute on the pitch, and there isn't a better example of this than Tom Heaton.

Tom Heaton is the third-choice-goalkeeper at United currently, but behind the scenes plays a bigger role than the title suggests. Along with players like Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, Heaton has been able to cultivate a winning atmosphere which has translated onto the pitch.

According to The Sun, well-placed sources say United are open to offering the 40-year-old a new contract on fresh terms, after he signed a one-year extension at Old Trafford last year.

The former England international not only provides valuable professional experience to the younger players in the side, he also counts as a 'homegrown, club trained' player, helping United pass the registration rules in both the Premier League and UEFA competitions.

The veteran goalkeeper is set to follow in the footsteps of Lee Grant, who transitioned into a player-coach type role before hanging up his boots and joining the Red Devils full time in some capacity as coaching staff.

Although fans may be sceptical of the club offering a player who has made three appearances in five seasons a new deal, looking at the bigger picture, the deal makes sense.

United will likely utilise Senne Lammens as their first-choice keeper, with youngster Radek Vitek being his back-up, and they will both hugely benefit from the guidance of a goalkeeper who has made over 350 senior appearances across his career.

Recently, Casemiro took time to praise Heaton for his impact both in training and during matchdays, explaining that the goalkeeper's vast footballing experience has become a very reliable source of moitivation for the squad.

If Heaton is offered a new contract, it can only be positive for both him and the players around him. He is not likely to play many minutes, if any at all in next year's campaign, meaning either Carrick or the higher-ups at the club think his presence is that influential he needs to remain at the club next season.

After Radek Vitek's impressive loan spell with Bristol City in the Championship this season, he has been working with Heaton at Carrington for the past week as United make the decision whether to keep, sell or loan the Czech-born goalkeeper for another season.

The 22-year-old shot stopper will benefit hugely from being mentored by Heaton, a United academy graduate in 2005, as the youngster will likely be hoping to push Lammens for the starting spot between the sticks throughout the upcoming campaign.

It will be extremely tough to take the Belgian keeper's place in the starting eleven after what has proved to be a world-class signing, with Lammens being at the forefront of United's upturn in form. However United fans will just be happy they don't have to choose out of Onana or Bayindir.