Last Updated: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:25
United have told AC Milan they aren't interested in Klaas Jan Huntelaar in any form of player plus cash deal for Nemanja Vidic.
Rumours are rife around Manchester that Vidic wants to leave at the end of the season and all the top clubs on the continent appear to have been tipped off that he could be prised away from Old Trafford.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have the finances in the place to mount a straight £25m cash offer - believed to be the Serbian's current market value with over two years left on his contract.
But Milan are desperate for a centre-back and their president Silvio Berlusconi could bankroll a major bid after reining in his spending last summer for political reasons.
Publicly, Vidic is not for sale, but Sir Alex Ferguson moved for a sixth centre-back in January when he signed Chris Smalling from Fulham and could be preparing to sell on his terms - in much the same way as he parted with Cristiano Ronaldo.