MANCHESTER -- Marouane Fellaini will not be sold in January even if that means Manchester United lose the midfielder on a free transfer in the summer, sources have told ESPN FC.
Fellaini is out of contract at the end of the season unless he can agree a new deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford.
United are keen for the Belgium international to stay but negotiations, which began last season, have dragged on after he rejected an offer in September.
Fellaini, 29, can sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club from Jan. 1 and has been linked with Galatasaray, Besiktas, AC Milan, Roma and Valencia.
United have not given up hope that he will agree new terms, but sources told ESPN FC they were prepared to risk losing him for nothing rather than pushing for a fee in January.
Manager Jose Mourinho said last month he was "worried" about Fellaini's contract situation, and described him as "very important" earlier this season.
Fellaini signed a four-year deal when he arrived from Everton for £27.5 million in 2013. In January, United triggered a one-year contract extension until next summer.