Manchester United will reportedly lose nearly £10 million if they terminate Cristiano Ronaldo's contract.
Since an alleged failed attempt to leave the club in the summer, the 37-year-old has only been part-time under Erik ten Hag.
Tensions reached a new peak midweek as Ronaldo sat on the bench in the Red Devils' win against Tottenham Hotspur and headed into the tunnel before the end of the game.
The Ten Hag have since confirmed that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner refused to come on as a substitute and was left out of the squad in Saturday's 1-1 draw.
Speculation about Ronaldo's next career move has intensified since the Tottenham drama and hopes are growing that he will not be at Old Trafford in the 2023/24 season.
The Ten Hag have confirmed that they are counting on Ronaldo for the remainder of the season, but it is not surprising that a January departure or a free transfer are under discussion.
With the Portugal international still under contract until 2023 with an option for another 12 months, The Sun claim Manchester United will suffer a major financial blow if they terminate his contract.
The report claims Ronaldo will earn around £9.6m when his contract expires and the Red Devils will have to pay that amount in compensation.
That figure could also go up based on league placements or trophies won, but there are alternative options for United, who could potentially end their contract without paying a penny if their refusal to play for Tottenham constitutes a breach of contract.
The Red Devils boss will also accept a free transfer for Ronaldo if significantly reduced profits are included in the move after stepping down from their £20m position since the summer.
While Ronaldo's options for a move elsewhere appear to be limited, Chelsea are rumored to be considering moves for the former Real Madrid and Juventus man in January.
Todd reportedly wanted the Blues to reach a deal for Ronaldo in the summer, but then manager Thomas Tuchel vetoed the move for the striker.
Todd Boehly could now try again for Ronaldo, however, with Graham Potter in charge, although it is unknown how the current Blues boss feels about signing the veteran.
Ronaldo has scored two goals and provided an assist in 12 games for Manchester United in the Premier League and Europa League this season, playing just 340 minutes of top-flight football.
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will return to the squad for the Red Devils' upcoming Europa League clash against Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford on Thursday night.