Manchester United Face Further Resistance in Attempts to Sign Kevin Strootman

Roma have repeated their stance on the future of midfielder Kevin Strootman by claiming the Netherlands international will not be joining Manchester United.

Strootman has been heavily rumoured to be reuniting with former national team boss Louis van Gaal, with reports suggesting the 24-year-old is the club's primary target in the January 2015 transfer window despite the player having been out since March 2014 with a serious knee injury.

But Roma president, James Pallotta, says the player is not available, all-but quashing United's hopes of making Strootman the latest signing of their high-profile spending spree.

"Due to continuous rumours reported in the English press regarding Strootman and Manchester United, I want to restate that Kevin is not on the market," Pallotta said on Twitter.

"Roma have never even considered putting Strootman up for sale. The English press is just wasting paper, because Kevin is seen as an integral, highly valued partner in our long term plans."

Pallotta's comments follow Mauro Baldissoni claiming the player is not for sale after speculation regarding his future.

"We can't wait to see Strootman back on the field, because we really miss him and that moment is getting closer," the Roma chief told Sky Sport Italia. "We are proud to have Strootman in our squad and he is not for sale."

Despite signing Daley Blind from Ajax in the summer, van Gaal appears keen on signing a midfielder to bolster his squad with Michael Carrick currently out with ankle injury.

Strootman played under van Gaal in the Dutch national team but missed the World Cup due to injury, forcing the Dutch manager into reshuffling his starting eleven.

United are expected to delve into the transfer window in January to further supplement their squad this season, after the club won just one of their first six games this season, the latest failure coming in the 5-3 defeat to Leicester City.