Bruno Martins Indi (L) and Ron Vlaar of the Netherlands celebrate after receiving their medals at the medal ceremony after winning their 2014 World Cup third-place playoff against Brazil at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia July 12, 2014.
Bruno Martins Indi (L) and Ron Vlaar of the Netherlands celebrate after receiving their medals at the medal ceremony after winning their 2014 World Cup third-place playoff against Brazil at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia July 12, 2014. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler

Ron Vlaar, Aston Villa's defender, denied having contact with Manchester United after sources told ESPN FC that he was United's option and that Aston Villa was seeking 12 million pounds for the Dutch centre-back.

In last summer's World Cup, Ron Vlaar was a cornerstone of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal's Netherlands defence. At that time, the 29-year-old was out of contract with Villa Park and he suggested that he had a number of offers from various clubs but nothing was as big as Villa.

In the summer, when Ronald Koeman's public interest irritated his Villa counterpart Paul Lambert, the 29-year-old was then wanted by Southampton. But then again, Ron Vlaar told Algemeen Dagblad that he did not receive an offer that would really make him want to leave Villa.

When he was asked specifically about Manchester United, that is expected to sign another central defender at some stage after Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo all suffered injuries, he said that he haven't heard from Manchester United and that if a club really wanted him, he would have noticed.

This rumour about Manchester United signing him up has been spreading like wildfire ever since a transfer window has been opened for Ron Vlaar, however, the 29-year-old is now denying it and is so firm in saying that he really doesn't want to make the links stay longer in the air.

If he would be offered by Manchester United, the media will definitely know about it directly from him and not from someone else. The defender has his own track record to brag and is very well available to become a part of a great team that will be playing for the Premiere League.

Ron Vlaar has been recorded to have made 76 appearances and joined Aston Villa from Feyenoord for 3.2 million pounds in 2012. Thus far, reports say that Vlaar, who has been extremely wanted after his impressive display at the World Cup, has been urged by his teammate Andreas Weimann to reject Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and other Premier League suitors.