West Ham have told BT Sport that there is no buy-back clause in Ravel Morrison’s contract that would allow Manchester United to take him back to Old Trafford.

Morrison was sold to the Hammers by United in January last year for an initial £650,000 transfer fee after a string of off-field controversies, having made only three first-team appearances for the club in the League Cup.

The 20-year-old midfielder has impressed for West Ham so far this season, scoring four goals in eight games in all competitions and earning a call up to the England Under-21s squad, making his debut at that level in this week's 4-0 away win over San Marino.

West Ham have confirmed they pay Manchester United £25,000 for every first-team appearance Morrison makes for the club as part of the cut-price deal that brought him to Upton Park.

And Hammers manager Sam Allardyce said earlier this week that he was unsure if United had included a buy-back option in the deal when they sold Morrison and conceded the Hammers would struggle to resist any big-money offers for the skilful midfielder.

Morrison made his England Under-21s debut this week

He said: "I don't know if there is a buy-back clause and what that figure might be if it even exists, but my real big worry is that Manchester United will come back to buy him.

"Look at what happened when Chris Smalling played a handful of games for Fulham - United jumped in with £10 million. Then there was Phil Jones when I was at Blackburn - that's what you are up against."

The Upton Park club have now clarified Morrison’s contract situation, telling BT Sport that no buy-back clause exists.

West Ham have also revealed that the club are seeking to increase the buy-out clause in Morrison’s contract from the current £20million to close to double that amount to ensure they get a record fee if ever the youngster is sold.

Hammers co-owner David Sullivan dealt with Morrison’s agent when bringing him to Upton Park from United, rather than the deal being negotiated by old friends Sir Alex Ferguson and Allardyce.

It is that relationship with the agent that is enabling Sullivan to renegotiate the complex buy-out clause in return for a substantial hike in the players’ wages, with a new deal being put in place and ready to sign off in January.

Morrison, who spent last term on loan at Birmingham City, has only next season left on his present deal, so West Ham want to move fast to tie up his future.

Award winning football journalist/broadcaster/author, Harry Harris is also co founder and chief football writer with Zapsportz.com