Manchester United Prospect Kevin Strootman 'Not Thinking About Move to Premier League'

Kevin Strootman insists he is happy at Roma despite ongoing speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United.

The Netherlands international is nearing his return from a cruciate ligament injury he suffered in March and has spent the last few weeks training with the Giallorossi first team.

That lengthy absence that saw him miss the entire World Cup campaign in Brazil in the summer has done little to quell talk of a move to Old Trafford, with recent reports suggesting the midfielder has told Roma of his desire to join manager Louis van Gaal in Manchester.

But Strootman has played down talk of a transfer request, telling Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur: "I feel better and better. I am now in training with the Roma squad and I am happy. I want to support my team and play again very quickly."

While United would appear to see money as no object in addressing the deficiencies in their squad this season, Roma's firm stance on Strootman suggests prising the Dutchman away from the Stadio Olimpico will be near impossible.

The Premier League side smashed theirs and the British transfer record to bring Angel Di Maria to the club in August for £59.7m and Roma owner James Pallotta has told United even a bid higher than that for Strootman would fall on deaf ears.

"It's just not happening," he told BBC.

"I have told the papers that they should stop wasting paper. We don't have any interest in selling Kevin. Obviously as business people when people call us and say 'we want your player' you are going to listen to them.

"You have to do that, that is the business side. That doesn't mean you are going to make a decision that [an offer of] £75m, bang you hit the bid. That is not the way it is going to work, it is not the way it does work with us."

Strootman joined Roma from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of £16m.

The midfielder could step up his return further by making an appearance for Roma's Primavera side on Sunday 9 November.