Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to keep Daniel James at Old Trafford last summer and told him he was part of his plans for the season.
That's according to The Athletic, who state that James was informed by his then manager that there was a place for him in his squad despite some big-money arrivals at the club.
It is reported that Solskjaer would have preferred to move on Anthony Martial ahead of the Welshman, but suitors could not be found for the France star.
Following Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at the club from Juventus, James was told by a club director, The Athletic state, that he would be seventh choice in his position and would be best to move on. Jadon Sancho was also signed last summer, pushing James further down the pecking order.
He had been heavily courted by Leeds United for nearly two years, with Marcelo Bielsa first trying to sign the young forward during his days at Swansea City.
He eventually moved to Elland Road on deadline day last summer for a fee in the region of £25million, possibly rising to £30million after add-ons.
Martial has since become a peripheral figure with the Red Devils and is expected to move on imminently.
James, meanwhile, is starting to hit his stride across the Pennines after a slow start to life in a Leeds shirt.
He has been deployed in a slightly unfamiliar role as striker in recent weeks, with first-choice frontman Patrick Bamford still sidelined through injury.
Twenty-four-year-old James has scored two goals and registered two assists in 18 appearances for the Whites, including a late header in the win over Burnley earlier this month.
He will be hoping to play a big part in Wales' World Cup play-off game against Austria in March, with a possible showdown with Scotland or Ukraine up for grabs with a place at the Qatar tournament at stake.
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