Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo may remain at the centre of a transfer saga, even though the market has closed until January. 

That's according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who was speaking to GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The 37-year-old tried to secure a move away from United this summer because he wanted to play in the Champions League rather than the Europa League. However, Erik ten Hag was adamant that the Portuguese veteran would remain at the club, and the Red Devils held firm in their stance.

The contract that Ronaldo signed on his return to Old Trafford a year ago expires at the end of the season, but United have the option to extend it by a further year.

The latest

While some United fans may have been breathing a sigh of relief that the 'Ronaldo situation' will no longer be a headline with the transfer window now closed, Jones has issued a warning that it might not go away just yet.

He told GiveMeSport: “We’ll have to wait and see on the Ronaldo situation. Although he has stayed, I can see that the story could somehow still continue beyond the transfer window.”

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The verdict

This is a worrying claim for United supporters.

Ten Hag is starting to build some momentum on the pitch, having overseen four consecutive Premier League victories in response to a disastrous start to the campaign.

However, if Ronaldo - the highest earner at the club on £515,000 per week and their highest-profile player by social media followers - agitates to leave, it could create an unhelpful distraction. Indeed, there have already been reports that some United players and staff are losing patience with the 'moody' forward.

There's a possibility that Ten Hag's management of Ronaldo might only exacerbate the issue. The 37-year-old has been named amongst the substitutes for the past four Premier League matches, and if this trend continues, he may become even more unhappy at Old Trafford.