Ince said: "If he comes on asking about Santa Cruz then I'll just tell him he's not having him.

"I had a text off Sir Alex to say 'Congratulations, well done' as I've had off numerous people.

"But I'm under no illusions, I'm the enemy now."

Ince is not under pressure to sell Santa Cruz and David Bentley.

He said: "You want to keep your best players. But if one of the top four came in for Bentley, we'd have to talk with the chairman."