Manchester United transfer target Fran Villalba set to sign new Valencia contract

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Valencia starlet Fran Villalba is set to snub interest from Manchester United in order to sign a new contract with the Mestalla club, MirrorFootball can reveal.

The teen star made his debut under Gary Neville last season and is considered one of Spain"s brightest young talents, but was considering leaving the club after his agent Vicente Fores revealed contact had been made by the Old Trafford outfit.

Fores told Sport Witness last week: "With me [contact has been made]. Just a contact to know his situation. Theyre already aware.

"I dont know about Valencia. But I reckon they will make it hard. We"ve just started talking. Its up to United."

Villalba was available for 3.6million due to a clause in his contract but sources close to the situation have since spoken of a warming of relations between the club and player and the 18-year-old midfielder is now expected to sign a new deal with vastly-improved terms and a greater release clause.

Villalba played some first-team minutes under Gary Neville last yearThe teen featured in the Copa del Rey semi-final

The Spanish Under-19 international is a Valencia native and his family believe he will be better served by remaining with his hometown club and progressing into the first team.

While United do look set to miss out on the diminutive playmaker, the club are continuing to cast the net wide as they ramp up their recruitment drive.

United have appointed 50 new scouts in 2016 in a bid to help them secure the world"s best young talent.

Ed Woodward has looked to improve United"s recruitment unitMarcel Bout is now playing a key role in the club"s global scouting setup

United"s academy is famed for producing some of the club"s best ever players, and Old Trafford chiefs are determined to ensure that river of young stars does not dry up.

Under the previous system, a small group of first team scouts reported directly to the manager while academy scouts were part of a separate team but executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has now changed that system bringing all scouts under the same management.

While some of Louis van Gaal"s scouts have lost their jobs, one has been promoted under Jose Mourinho.

Marcel Bout, previously Van Gaal"s opposition scout, is now the global head of scouting.

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-transfer-target-fran-9068409