Manchester United's Alexander Buttner Ponders Old Trafford Exit

Manchester United full back Alexander Buttner will consider leaving Old Trafford this January with Serie A duo Roma and Genoa keen on taking the Dutchman on a loan deal.

Despite being heavily linked with loan moves to Galatasaray and Besiktas during the summer transfer window Buttner opted to start the season at United after his club failed in their attempts to add Leighton Baines and Fabio Coentrao to the squad.

Having started just four games this season – only one of those coming in the Premier League – Roma director of football Walter Sabatini has reportedly sounded out the possibility of signing the Dutchman along with his compatriot John Heitinga, who has failed to make a single league appearance for Everton this campaign.

The Serie A giants will have been boosted in their attempts to bring the Dutchman to the Stadio Olimpico after Buttner's agent Alexander Bursac was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport that his client is desperate to leave Old Trafford with his eye on a place in Holland's World Cup squad.

"He wants to play in the World Cup and needs more space. Genoa and Roma want to inform the club (Manchester United) of this interest. I hope they are willing to do it," Bursac said.

Fulham have also been linked with making a January loan offer for Buttner, with former United coach Rene Meulensteen keen to boost his defensive options at Craven Cottage with his fellow Dutchman.

It remains to be seen whether David Moyes will re-launch efforts to sign either Baines or Coentrao next month after the pair slipped through his grasp six months ago, but any such move would effectively end Buttner's hopes of earning a space in Louis van Gaal's Dutch squad for next summer.

While United are largely expected to do business during the January transfer window, Moyes has played down the possibility of established names arriving at the club next month.

"We will look (at targets)," Moyes said. "But I wouldn't turn around and say that I'm massively sure that we will get them.

"Because a lot of players we would be interested in wouldn't' be available for us in the month of January. But we'll certainly be looking."