Valencia have withdrawn their contract off for exciting young left-back Jose Luis Gaya, according to a report in the Valencia newspaper Super Deporte.

Sam Marsden

Talks have been ongoing for a while, with an agreement thought to be close several months ago.

However, the 19-year-old's representatives have refused to sign any deal which raised his release clause from €18million to €40million.

Apparently, Gaya will only sign terms which keep that figure below €30million.

Real Madrid have been strongly linked with him this season and this news will only increase speculation that the Alicante-born defender wants to move to the Bernabeu.

His current contract expires in 2018 and Valencia are now in real danger of losing another talented left-back for less than they should.

They have previously lost Jordi Alba to Barcelona and Juan Bernat to Bayern.

Gaya is expected to play against Barça on Saturday, though. He picked up a knock against Villarreal and missed Los Che's last two matches, but he returned to training on Wednesday morning.