Wayne Rooney could walk out on Manchester United next season for just £5 million.
The Daily Mail says Rooney could end his contract early next summer under FIFA regulations - with United receiving only approximately £5m in return.
Using the Article 17 of FIFA's transfer rules - introduced after Scotland defender Andy Webster's controversial move from Hearts to Wigan - Rooney could buy out the final year of his contract for the price of his annual salary, plus a small compensation fee.
Such a move would be a huge blow for United, who would currently expect to receive a fee of around £50m for the England international.
Spanish law firm Ruiz Huerta y Crespo, who have dealt with every big Article 17 case so far, have confirmed that Rooney can quit under the rules.
The rules state that a player can walk away from his contract after what FIFA describes as the 'protected period' has expired.
The protected period varies according to age. For players who were under 28 when signing the deal - as Rooney was - the protected period is three years of the deal.
Rooney was 21 in November 2006 when he signed the contract. This meant that the protected period expired in November 2009. Rooney could have walked away this summer if he had been willing to pay two years' salary. But the big worry for United is that he could do it next summer for half that amount.
