Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has revealed that Darren Fletcher's proposed move to West Ham has broken down.
Fletcher had been granted a free transfer by the Red Devils and was expected to pen a deal with Sam Allardyce's side after heading down to London for a medical on Friday.
But the Scot has been left high and dry with the deal off, with Van Gaal intimating that West Ham wanted to change the terms of the deal from a permanent switch to a loan move.
"I thought Darren was going to sign a contract. But at the end they look for a loan and that was not the agreement", Van Gaal told the BBC after Manchester United's 3-1 win over Leicester City earlier today.
"I'm only listening to what is now said by West Ham United."
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Now Van Gaal believes that Fletcher will remain at Old Trafford. And the Dutchman said the move was only motivated by his desire to allow the midfielder to play regular first team football, meaning he is happy to keep the Scot under his wing.
"I think so [he will remain at the club]. He is my third captain so it is not a problem for me.
"Manchester United just want to help him play more. For him now that is a big pity."
West Ham went down to a 2-0 defeat away to Liverpool today and it remains to be seen whether they try to resurrect the deal for Fletcher in its original form before the transfer window slams shut on Monday evening.
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