Carlos Soler
Carlos Soler only signed a new deal at Valencia earlier this year. Getty

KEY POINTS

  • Recent reports claimed that Jose Mourinho has identified the Spaniard as his number one January target.
  • Soler points out that he has a contract until 2021 at Valencia, with a £71.5m release clause.

Spain Under-21 international Carlos Soler has claimed that "it would be foolish" to think about a January move to Manchester United after indicating he still has many years ahead at Valencia.

Soler only made his first-team debut with Valencia on 10 December last year against Real Sociedad but the 20-year-old quickly proved to be a revelation in La Liga.

In May ,Valencia rewarded him with a new long-term contract until 2021, increasing his release clause to €80m (£71.5m, $94.4m) in order to ward off potential suitors.

But speculation about his future at the Mestalla has continued after Soler became an established player for Marcelino Garcia Toral during the opening part of the season, scoring one goal and providing four assists to help Los Che sit in second place, four points behind Barcelona and four ahead of Real Madrid.

Last month, both the Daily Mail and The Sun reported that Manchester United had begun negotiations to signing Soler ahead of next season in a deal worth around £30m after having been attracted by his impressive rise into the Spanish top flight.

Earlier this week Marca added more fuel to the saga after revealing that Valencia may need to put the Spaniard up for sale to balance their books if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The Independent reported that United could consider making a move to test the resolve of Valencia in January with Mourinho having identified Soler as his number one priority target for the upcoming winter market.

But Soler has appeared to rule out such a move after claiming that he still has a long-term future ahead in his childhood side, having progressed through the youth ranks of the club since the age of seven.

"You already know it. I'm focused on Valencia," the Spaniard told Cadena Cope when asked about the interest from United.

"Regarding those things [the interested from Manchester United] I know nothing. It would be foolish to think about those things right now. I have to be focused at Valencia. I have a lot of years left [in my contract] and that's what I have to do."

Soler was responding to a Valencia fan during a Q&A organised by Cope.

Former West Ham striker Simone Zaza was also taking part of it and also reassured the concerns of the fans regarding Soler future by adding: "He stays."

Valencia fans will be hoping Soler can be kept from joining United as the Spanish midfielder is expected to play a key role in the second part of the season, with Los Che fans dreaming about winning their first La Liga title since the 2003-2004 season.