According to reports from ESPN this afternoon, Manchester United could cancel the contract of ostracised goalkeeper Victor Valdes – but only if he joins a club outside of the Premier League.
The former Barcelona No.1 moved to Old Trafford as a free agent in January and made two Premier League appearances for the Red Devils at the end of last season.
But manager Louis van Gaal surprisingly revealed in July that the 2010 World Cup winner had been placed on the transfer list after refusing to represent United’s U21 squad.
He came close to joining Besiktas in the final week of the summer transfer window but the deal collapsed at the last minute. Reports from Mirror Football yesterday claimed the 33 year-old is being ‘humiliated’ by van Gaal, who will only permit him to use the training facilities at Carrington when the first team aren’t around.
Chelsea and Liverpool have both been linked with the Spain international this week. The Premier League champions have allegedly shortlisted Valdes for emergency loan, should Asmir Begovic join No.1 Thibaut Courtois on the injury list or be suspended before the January window, whilst the Reds want him to provide competition for Simon Mignolet.
But according to ESPN, United will only terminate Valdes’ contract upon the stipulation that he’s not allowed to join another Premier League club – which suggests they aren’t too interested in the alternative scenario of letting him leave for Liverpool or Chelsea in January either.
Also in the news this week:
Chelsea and Man United on alert: CB prodigy unhappy at current club
Ronaldo, a bottle of wine and Manchester United
Man United to launch £29.4m bid for Europe’s set piece king
Chelsea eye January swoop for Algeria star on Arsenal radar
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