Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Dimitri Payet, Matteo Darmian Rumours

West Ham United captain Mark Noble has insisted team-mate and reported Manchester United target Dimitri Payet is "fully committed" to the club amid rumours of a winter move. Meanwhile, Matteo Darmian has dismissed speculation of an Old Trafford exit.

Noble spoke to TalkSport presenter Jim White (via Alex Varney) and said Payet remains content at the London Stadium despite gossip emerging that United manager Jose Mourinho is eager to sign the Frenchman:

"

I could go on to social media and make something up now and all of a sudden it would be on Sky Sports news and someone would be believe it. That’s the way football is now.

But Dimi is fully committed, I can tell you that now. He is great with the lads and I have got a very close bond with Dimi. I see him train every day, I see how he feels when we lose games.

"

The Hammers currently sit just two points off the bottom of the Premier League table, and it's no coincidence Payet's own failure to reach the level of performance seen last season hasn't helped their fall from grace.

Sport Witness cited a report from French newspaper Le 10 Sport, which even went so far as to claim Mourinho has personally spoken to Payet regarding a midseason transfer:

The winger moved to easy London from Marseille in 2015 but has since signed a new £125,000-per-week contract until 2021 with the Hammers, per Liam Spence of the Daily Express. Spence also said the player could be allowed to leave West Ham for as little as £15 million if the club is relegated to the Championship.

One figure who has said Payet would be a success at Old Trafford is former Red Devils goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who gave the France international his seal of approval on Soccer AM (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw):

"

He’s a Manchester United-type player, for sure.  I think Mourinho has to change his way a little bit to please the fans, the club and the traditions of the club. I think he’s showing signs of that, the players that he is signing, they are of a different calibre.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is someone he probably wouldn’t have signed had he been at Chelsea, but he’s United’s kind of player, the kind the supporters like to see.

He’s rewarding us with great skills and great goals – I think he has scored seven so far. But Payet? Definitely if he can find the form he showed during the Euros.

"

Payet may be struggling to hit the same heights this season as he did during the 2015-16 campaign, but Mourinho may yet feel he can revive the best in the creative playmaker.

What's more, Payet would at least bring a devastating set-piece threat to the Theatre of Dreams after notching another fine free-kick finish in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Liverpool:

Elsewhere, Darmian has insisted he has a future at United despite rumours he could be forced to leave the club, with Juventus and Inter said to be interested in bringing the former Torino defender back to Serie A.

That's according to Italian outlet Calciomercato, which provided quotes from Darmian's recent interview with The Sun. He said:

"

I’m playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am very happy here. I’ve heard many transfer rumours about my future, but I know nothing about that, I’ll carry on doing my job and work hard for the team. Of course I’m not happy with my game time, but I want to stay here and the most important thing is to work hard and help the team to win.

"

Darmian has only made nine appearances for United across all competitions this season and is sat firmly behind first-choice right-back Antonio Valencia in the squad's pecking order.

The Italy international showed some promise under Mourinho's predecessor, Louis van Gaal, during his first season at the club, and it appears Mourinho may need to look elsewhere to free up some January funds.