It has been reported that Manchester United will not consider selling David de Gea in January.
The Spanish international goalkeeper is inside the final year of his current United deal and can commit to a pre-contract with Real Madrid from the New Year.
The Mail on Sunday says United will not consider selling De Gea in January and will let him run down in his contract if he does not sign a new one. The player is extremely unlikely to threaten to go on strike.
Indeed, the 24-year-old is likely to be the biggest winner of the impasse. As Real will no longer have to pay a transfer fee, he could earn an extra £8m over the course of a long-term contract.
And he will not have to include a super-agent like Jose Mendes in future negotiations — another potential cost saving.