Memphis Depay could be stuck at Old Trafford until the end of the season with Manchester United’s eagerness to sell rather than loan out the Holland winger proving a significant financial obstacle for would-be suitors.

United paid PSV Eindhoven an initial £25 million for Depay in June 2015 and want to recoup a substantial portion of that fee for the 22-year-old.

But the combination of a £20 million price tag and Depay’s £90,000 a week wages have so far proved prohibitive to clubs interested in ending the player’s Old Trafford nightmare.

United manager Jose Mourinho has already insisted that Sam Johnstone, the goalkeeper who joined Aston Villa on loan on Thursday until the end of the season, would be the only first team player to leave on a temporary basis this month.