United Could Pursue Midfielder In January After Failed Deadline Deal

Manchester United midfield target Ander Herrera says he was flattered to be connected with a move to the club but the Athletic Bilbao star insists he's happy to stay with his current side as David Moyes plots a January move.

United came close to sealing a deal for Herrera on deadline day if reports are to be believed but the 24 year old has since said he was unaware of any agreement as he concentrates on his own preparations with Athletic.

The midfielder now claims that after no club met his buy-out clause - believed to be around £31million - he never thought he would be leaving Spain even though he was flattered to be linked with United.

"The only option, as the president said, was to pay my clause. I was never told United would pay the clause," he told reporters in a press conference today.

"At no time have either I or my agent reached an agreement with United.

"I've been silent because the important thing was (Sunday's) game at Real Madrid. Today I'm here, with no problem, with the truth.

"I will continue to demonstrate my commitment to the club as I have since the first day I arrived. I speak for me. I do not speak of other cases. The club can confirm that my behaviour has been fantastic.

"I'm very flattered to see that one of the biggest clubs in the world, such as United, bid for me (but) I did not talk at any time with United. I've been very quiet."

The Telegraph claim that David Moyes is a big admirer of Herrera and will be pursuing the star once more in the January transfer window.

The club will likely be looking at the mistakes that led them to only landing one of their desired targets over the summer after Moyes and chief executive Ed Woodward failed in many of their pursuits over the course of the window and on deadline day itself.

A busy January could in fact be on the cards if United find they are struggling with their current line-up in the face of reinvigorated Manchester City and Chelsea sides and after Arsene Wenger saved Arsenal's embarrassments by landing high-profile midfielder Mesut Ozil on deadline day.