Victor Valdes may have just been given a Manchester United escape route

Victor Valdes's Old Trafford hell could be over very soon.

The Spanish goalkeeper hasn't played for the club since May, and has been frozen out by manager Louis van Gaal. He was excluded from the official squad photo and forced to train away from the first team, but things could soon be looking up for the former Barcelona man. Valdes is close to completing a deal to join Spanish club Espanyol in January, according to the Daily Mail. It fulfils Van Gaal's desire for the 33-year-old not to join a Premier League rival, while allowing him to return to his home city of Barcelona. However Newcastle United, whose first choice Tim Krul is out for the season, could yet attempt to hijack the deal. Espanyol are currently 13th in La Liga, but no team in the Spanish top-flight has conceded more than their 23 in 11 games. They have struggled for clean sheets since former number one Kiko Casilla moved to Real Madrid, so Valdes could be the perfect addition to their squad.