Champions had been scouting the Spanish starlet all campaign long, with a view to landing the youngster this month.
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Manchester United’s hopes of signing their number one transfer target in January, coveted Atletico de Madrid midfielder Koke, have been dashed after the La Liga high flyers confirmed that their star man would now be staying at the Vincents Calderon until the end of the season, according to reports in the Guardian.
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The struggling Premier League champions had made the purchase of the newly capped Spain international their main priority for this month’s transfer window, especially with the team so badly out of form at present.
And new Red Devils head coach David Moyes has even been out to the Spanish capital on a number of occasions of late to watch Koke in action first hand ahead of making a big-money move for the player before the winter transfer window slams shut for business for this campaign at the end of the month.
Not only that, but the Premier League giants also have the finances available in order to meet Koke’s release clause in his current contract with Atleti, which is worth a whopping €60m after the in-form La Liga outfit recently extended the goalscoring midfielder’s deal until June 2018, while at the same time also renegotiating the size of his trigger clause too.
However Atletico sporting director, José Luis Pérez Caminero, has now revealed that the 21-year-old will not be leaving the club in January.
“Koke will be with us for many years. I am convinced,” Caminero said. “He is a player who has improved considerably. [He] has also made it into the Spain squad and that puts you in the spotlight and opens more eyes.”