Manchester United transfer news: United miss out on Sergio Ramos as he signs new five-year contract with Real Madrid

Ramos had been linked with a move away from Real this summer but has instead agreed a new contract until 2020

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has signed a new five-year contract (Getty Images)

Sergio Ramos has finally ended any speculation regarding a move to Manchester United this summer by agreeing a new five-year contract with Real Madrid, with a ceremony planned to announce the news scheduled for this afternoon.

United wanted to sign 29-year-old Ramos when it became public that the Spain international was unhappy with life at Real following the distasteful exit of former captain and club legend Iker Casillas. A reported breakdown in the relationship between Ramos and Real club president Florentino Perez led to a bid in the region of £30m being made by United, only to see the Spaniard’s reject the offer.

United were hopeful that a deal could be reached that would likely see goalkeeper David De Gea return to Spain, but the club soon caught wind that Ramos may be using the interest from United to earn an improved contract at the Santiago Bernabeu – something Perez promised him following the successful 2013-14 Champions League final.

United refrained from making a second offer as soon as it became known Ramos had entered negotiations over a new long-term deal, and the expectation is that todays presentation will confirm the deal has been completed to keep the 2010 World Cup winner at Real for another five years.

De Gea is unlikely to leave United this summer (GETTY IMAGES)

The news comes as a double blow for United, who have seen fierce rivals Manchester City surge ahead in the race to sign Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi. The Argentinian centre-back is desperate to leave the La Liga club, but despite United being consistently linked with a move for the 27-year-old throughout the summer, the club are yet to make an official bid.

City a believed to have offered Valencia £25m as well as their defender Eliaquim Mangala on a season-long loan, despite the Frenchman having an impressive start to the 2015/16 Premier League season.

Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi (Getty Images)

Ramos’s decision to stay at Real will likely end any possibility of De Gea leaving this summer, and leaves United facing the prospect of losing their first-choice goalkeeper for nothing next summer when his current contract expires. The newly-appointed Real captain, who is now the club’s longest-serving player following Casillas’s departure, has made 445 appearances for the club which he joined from Seville back in 2005, and he could reach the 500 mark by the end of this season.