Cristiano Ronaldo to get Man Utd escape route in January as new transfer offer prepared

Manchester United's resolve to keep Cristiano Ronaldo will be tested by Sporting Lisbon in the New Year.

United have been steadfast in their refusal to allow the want-away Portuguese striker to leave Old Trafford since the summer, despite the 37-year-old’s agent touting him around Europe.

But Ronaldo’s presence on the substitutes' bench has become a distraction that manager Erik ten Hag is starting to fret about.

And Sporting, the club that launched the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s career, are ready to offer a compromise.

It would mean United handing Ronaldo a pay-off on a chunk of the £500,000-a-week wages he secured when he returned to Manchester from Juventus in the summer of 2001.

But Sporting would still pay the bulk of Ronaldo’s wages.

It would be heralded as a triumphant homecoming by the Lisbon club - and would also offer Ronaldo the chance to play in the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

Ten Hag will make the final decision on where Ronaldo will finish the season.

The Dutchman has impressed in both the dressing room and boardroom over his refusal to allow the former Real Madrid star’s influence and reputation shape his selection policy.

And he illustrated who the boss is by hitting Ronaldo with a £1million fine over his refusal to be used as a substitute in the recent victory over Tottenham.

Ronaldo has been reduced to cameo appearance this season (Getty Images)

But Ten Hag has also accepted that he is unlikely to see any reinforcements for his squad recruited during the winter transfer window - even if Ronaldo does leave.

United will have a significant scouting presence at the World Cup.

But the club will not be lured into making any signings based solely on the performances in Qatar.

United spent almost £220million during the summer to bolster the squad Ten Hag inherited when he arrived from Ajax.

Ten Hag’s rubber-stamped every signing - but played a key role in persuading Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia to move with him from Holland after director of football John Murtough told him all three players were already on the club’s radar.

Ten Hag is still hoping that Anthony Martial can be a key player for him if the Frenchman can overcome the injury problems that have blighted him again this season.