Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez believes the Wayne Rooney saga could scupper Manchester United's season.
Martinez almost lost his best player - Charles N'Zogbia - at the start of the season and admitted the speculation over his on-off move to Birmingham had an unsettling effect on team-mates.
N'Zogbia, the Latics' player of the year last season, eventually stayed.
But Martinez is convinced that saga contributed to his team's shocking start this term - they conceded 10 goals as Blackpool and Chelsea hammered them at the DW Stadium.
He said: "Situations like this are distracting and can be unsettling for the dressing room.
"So it is always better if these things can be resolved quickly.
"I am sure this is the last thing Sir Alex wants."