With the Premier League stamping down on third-party ownership, the Red Devils will have to buy the Argentine or let him leave this summer...

Manchester United will either have to buy Carlos Tevez at the end of this season or wave goodbye to the stocky striker.

The Argentina international is currently on loan at Old Trafford from a third-party owner in the form of agent Kia Joorabchian.

However, in an attempt to clamp down on that particular mode of transfer, in June 2008 the Premier League ruled that clubs are no longer permitted to loan players in such a fashion.

Therefore, once the 25-year-old's two-year loan agreement expires at the end of this season, the Red Devils will either have to pay his alleged £32 million asking price or let him leave.

"He would not be eligible to play under the new rules on third-party ownership we introduced in June," a Premier League spokesperson is quoted as saying in The Sun.

"But the rules are not applied retrospectively so he can play for United under his two-year loan arrangement from 2007."

It is thought that Tevez's owners were looking to sell him to the European Champions rather than settle on another loan deal anyway, but it has been suggested that United are reluctant to meet his high valuation.

- Goal.com