Manchester United have denied making attempts to sign defender Kevin Hofland behind the backs of his Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. PSV president Harry van Raaij was quoted as making the accusation in Sunday's News of the World.
But United's chief executive Peter Kenyon told BBC radio: "There has been no approach. We are aware of Hofland and he has an increasing reputation but we know his contractual position. If there was any interest we would go direct to the chairman...If you look at our relationship with PSV and the players we have had from them, there is no need for illegal tapping because we have a direct route into the club."
Hofland said it would be a dream come true if he moved to English premier league champions Manchester United. "I read that United are interested in me in the newspapers virtually every day. When it comes true I will be honoured," Hofland was quoted as saying in the News of the World.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
