Manchester United Deny Approach For Wesley Sneijder

Manchester United are not pursuing a deal to sign Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder and never have been, BBC Sport has learned.

The Italian club denied receiving an offer from the English champions on Wednesday, but reports suggested the Dutchman remained a target of United.

However, sources at Old Trafford have revealed that a deal for the 27-year-old is not currently in the offing.

Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David de Gea have joined United this summer.

The combined cost of that trio is reported to be about £53m, but funds are said to still be available for the Red Devils to further strengthen their squad.

The retirement of midfielder Paul Scholes, in particular, was thought to have created a hole that needed filling - and newspaper reports have long insisted that Sneijder is a top target for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Various articles on Wednesday and Thursday claimed a deal of around £35m had been agreed between United and Inter, with Sneijder accepting terms on a £190,000-a-week contract.

But those reports appear to be wide of the mark.

Only on Wednesday, Inter technical director Marco Branca insisted the Milanese club had not received any official offers for the Netherlands international, saying: "No, there's not been an official offer and there has never been the intention to listen to them.

"There are no updates. He is not for sale."

And United boss Ferguson told ESPN Soccernet on Thursday: "I keep reading about this, there's absolutely nothing at all to that [reports of United's interest in Sneijder].

"First of all I don't think Inter are prepared to sell him anyway.

"You get conjecture and you get speculation every week in newspapers unfortunately. And we have to answer these for some reason - why, I don't know.

"But we have to find a reason without adding insult to any particular club, or embarrassing any particular player. There's nothing we can do about it."

Furthermore, in early June, Sneijder told Inter's website: "At the moment I am very happy here, and I don't see why I should leave."

Sneijder helped the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa and won the domestic title, domestic cup and Champions League treble with Inter under Jose Mourinho in the same year.

And, speaking to BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday, former Manchester United and England defender Gary Pallister insisted Sneijder would be "a huge hit" if he moved to Old Trafford.

"Maybe he is the sort of player that has been missing from United's side since Roy Keane left," he said.

"He will bring a bit of steel in there.

"There are no doubts about his temperament and ability to succeed at Old Trafford. He has played at the San Siro and been a success.

"Sneijder's pedigree is up there with the best. He's got great quality, a good engine. He has got the experience to go straight into the side and make an impact.

"United have got young players coming through but they have lost a great player in Paul Scholes and they need to replace that."

WESLEY SNEIJDER AT A GLANCE
Born in Utrecht in June 1984
Won respected Johan Cruyff Award (best young player in the Netherlands) with Ajax in 2004
Known for being comfortable passing the ball with both feet
Mixed time with Real Madrid, who he joined in 2007 for 27m Euros
Man of the match for his national team in six out of eleven games at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup
Scored as Inter knocked Barcelona out on the way to winning the 2010 Champions League