Victor Valdes will be looking to prove his fitness at Old Trafford. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Manchester United will offer goalkeeper Victor Valdes a contract, depending on how he trains and performs physically over the coming weeks, a club source has told ESPN FC.

United have announced on their official website that Valdes is training with the Premier League side to "complete his rehabilitation from a knee injury and to work his way back to fitness with the club."

The 32-year-old, who tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament in March, is available on a free transfer after leaving the Camp Nou in the summer and was previously thought to be close to a move to Liverpool, but Brendan Rodgers recently said he had no plans to sign the player.

Initial indications had been that United boss Louis van Gaal, who had given Valdes his debut at Barcelona in August 2002, was primarily allowing him to train at Carrington as a favour but would keep an open mind if the Spaniard impressed.

However, ESPN FC has now been told that United's plans go far deeper, and that this move comes after weeks of contact between Valdes and Van Gaal's goalkeeping coach, Frans Hoek, with United set to stage the first medical tests in the next few days.

Current United No. 1 David de Gea has been linked with Real Madrid in recent weeks, but he has played down speculation of a move to the Bernabeu.