Soccer: Alex Ferguson's desire to end his legal dispute with Manchester United's biggest shareholders became clear last night when it emerged that he is trying to reach an out-of-court settlement and that his son is contemplating ending his career as a football agent.

Ferguson's increasingly acrimonious legal case with John Magnier, whose Cubic Expression investment vehicle owns 25.49 per cent of Manchester United, has led Jason Ferguson to consider his position at the controversial Elite sports agency.

It follows allegations of nepotism and a potential conflict of interest in some transfers at Old Trafford, as well as the disclosure that Jason Ferguson recently called in police because of the theft of mail from his house in Cheshire.

No decision has yet been taken but the fact that such a move is under consideration will be seen as a major victory for Magnier, as will the disclosure that Ferguson apparently wants to initiate "peace talks". Ferguson held talks at the weekend with his Dublin-based barrister Colm Allen after further revelations that Magnier had questioned Ferguson's fitness to manage the club on medical grounds.

At present, Ferguson's case against Magnier is that he was verbally offered 50 per cent of the stud fees for Rock of Gibraltar, which could yield £200 million over the horse's lifetime.

However, Ferguson is under increasing pressure, for the sake of his family and the club, to drop his legal action after a sustained campaign by Cubic Expression that culminated in a written demand for answers to 99 questions concerning the club's transfer dealings and corporate governance.

Ferguson's lawyers will propose accepting 15 per cent of the horse's stud fees, but may be willing to go even lower.

A deal offered by Magnier, which is still on the table, would represent around £45,000 a year, a figure Ferguson regards as unacceptable.

But contrary to reports yesterday, a "call-the-dogs-off" deal has not been agreed in principle. The first Magnier knew about Ferguson's apparent willingness to instigate peace talks - the case might not otherwise be heard for 18 months - was when he received a call at his retreat in Barbados yesterday. He has ruled out flying to Dublin to sort out the matter and will leave it to his lawyers, but has indicated he would welcome an approach.