Manchester United Transfer News: Italians Issue Hands-Off Warning to Red Devils over Midfield Maestro

Roma general manager Mauro Baldissoni insists the club has no plans to sell midfielder Kevin Strootman to Manchester United.

The Holland international has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford over a year now, but a long-term knee injury - suffered by the player back in March - halted the move in the summer. However, now with the 24-year-old getting back to full fitness, rumours linking him with a switch to the Red Devils in January are gathering pace.

United are in the market for a central midfielder, and new boss Louis van Gaal is a massive admirer of Strootman, having built Holland's 2014 World Cup squad around the midfielder, before he suffered the injury that sidelined him for the showpiece event.

Reports also claim that Roma are open to selling the player, if the Red Devils can match their asking price. However, Giallorossi chief Baldissoni has now played down all speculations, insisting Strootman is not for sale.

"This is something I'm reading every day. It is also something our president doesn't like to read every day. He made a statement a few weeks ago saying Kevin was not for sale but, to be fair, we haven't received any call from Manchester. We do not plan to sell him," Sky Sports quoted the Italian as saying.

Baldissoni is also adamant that Roma do not have to sell Strootman in January just because the club got knocked out of the Champions League, following Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.

The 44-year-old also stated that he is unaware of United's purported plan to table a bid for Strootman soon, insisting Red Devils boss van Gaal and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward should answer the question.

"I don't have a clue. This is something you should ask Van Gaal or Mr Woodward but we don't think we will sell our best players. Kevin is also young, not only a good player, he is a young player and we have a very long contract so we want to build our team around him."