Manchester United Transfer Rumour: Agent Gives Update on Dutchman's Future

Manchester United's protracted pursuit of Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder looks to have drawn a blank, after his agent revealed his client is likely to remain in Italy past the end of the current transfer window.

Speculation had continued to link United with a move for the Dutchman in January despite Sir Alex Ferguson's repeated claims that he was happy with his current squad.

Sneijder, 27, was strongly connected with a move to Manchester United in the summer but a deal never materialised, with Sir Alex Ferguson continually insisting that the club were not interested in the Holland international.

And Sneijder's agent has put an end to those Manchester United rumours after he confirmed the player will stay in Serie A for the remainder of the season.

"I really think that Wesley will remain at inter, because a few weeks ago he said he was 90 per cent sure that he would stay," Soren Lerby told calciomercato.it.

"Why didn't he say 100 per cent? He wasn't trying to hide any problems he has with the club or the coach, or any offers from other clubs. He left a small percentage because in football anything can happen.

"For that reason, I would answer in the same way when asked about his future."

United's alleged pursuit of Sneijder has been repeatedly denied by Ferguson, who was always likely to be put off by the midfielder's £250,000-a-week wage demands and the low re-sale value on a player looking for his last big contract.

But with Darren Fletcher ruled out indefinitely with ulcerative colitis, Tom Cleverley side-lined after an ankle injury and the likes of Anderson and Ashley Young struggling with injuries; Ferguson has been linked with a number of top targets across Europe.

However, Paul Scholes' return and Michael Carrick's encouraging recent form has underlined Ferguson's commitment not to enter the transfer market mid-season.

"The reason there may not be many big signings in January is because the players clubs want are not available," Ferguson said in December. "To be honest with you, who would want to sell their best player in January?

"I don't see it happening. There are cases of players whose contracts are running out in the summer but they won't get the same money anyway. It'll be well reduced."