Manchester United Transfer News: Two Playmaker Targets Off The Cards For January

Both Nicolas Gaitan and Wesley Sneijder are both set to stay at their respective clubs this season, despite continued links to Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson has continually insisted that the club are not on the lookout for a creative midfielder, despite suffering from numerous injuries in that particular position.

United have gone so far as to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement to help fill the gap in the middle of the park, but at 37-years-old, it would seem that Ferguson has found a short term fix to a long term problem.

Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba were both believed to be possible long term replacements for Scholes, but the pair are currently stalling contract discussions with the English giants, and their deals run out this summer.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has admitted he has 'two or three' long term targets in mind, but Nicolas Gaitan and Wesley Sneijder have both rebuffed any rumours connecting them with a January move to United.

"Gaitan's goal is to play well for Benfica and be a champion at the club, where he is very happy," the midfielder's agent Jose Irribaran told Antena 1.

"I do not know if there is interest [from United and City], but I think that any team in the world would like to have Gaitan.

"However, there is nothing yet."

Wesley Sneijder also confirmed he will stay at Inter Milan until the summer at least, with the Dutchman telling reporters: "I am in good shape and I feel well. The future? I stay at Inter, I feel good here.

"How much is left until the end of this transfer window? A week, no? I'm staying here."

Gaitan and Sneijder have both starred for Benfica and Inter respectively over the last season, and the pair are said to have price tags topping £30 million each.

United were particularly connected to Sneijder in the summer, and though Ferguson denied that talks had taken place over a move, both the playmaker and Inter insisted that the sides had been in discussions, but a deal fell through.

Gaitan's agent, meanwhile, had claimed in December that United were having informal talks at least over a move in January, with Irribaran telling the same press outlet: "I have not received any contact from United but there have been conversations between the two clubs.

"If these talks progress, then we will get our time to speak."

But now Gaitan looks set to be at Benfica for the remainder of the season at least, though summer could be an important time for the 23 year old, who is said to be a possible future European talent.