Villareal have described reports that midfielder Marcos Senna will join Manchester United as a “rumour” – but did not rule out such a move.
“There is nothing confirmed,” said a Villarreal spokesman on Monday.
“It is all a rumour. Marcos Senna is training right now for Villarreal. That’s all I can say.”
United have been strongly linked with the 30-year-old Spain international, who was born in Brazil and is an accomplished defensive midfielder.
Villarreal are thought to be holding out for £10m for Senna but he only has one year left on his contract and United are understood to want to pay in the region of £3m.
The Old Trafford outfit are on the verge of signing Michael Carrick from Tottenham – and the pair could form a new-look central midfield pairing for United.
Senna was a member of the Villarreal team that reached the last four of last season’s Champions League – the Spanish club losing to Arsenal at the semi-final stage.
The midfielder is seen by many as a replacement for Roy Keane, who left Old Trafford last November. With Keano’s departure, the midfield has been taken over by other able-bodied and talented players in the roster among them Ji-Sung Park . The South Korean Park has been wowing ManUtd fans with his consistent performance and very friendly demeanor.