Manchester United Transfer News: Milan Skriniar 'Happy to Stay' at Inter Milan

Inter Milan defender and Manchester United target Milan Skriniar has distanced himself from a transfer, saying he would be happy to spend his "entire career" at the San Siro.

The Slovakia international joined the Nerazzurri from Sampdoria in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength in Milan. Skriniar told Idnes he's content at Inter, and when asked what he thought his value was, he replied (h/t SportMediaset, via Calciomercato.com):

"How much are you worth? I have no idea, I really don't know anything about transfer prices. I know that the amounts that are being mentioned are huge but who knows if it is even true, let's see.

"Inter Milan? I would be happy to stay here for my entire career, similar to Marek Hamsik with Napoli. Inter are a huge club and the fact that we are in the UCL gives us even more visibility. It's amazing to play in the UCL, it's a dream come true for sure. When I heard the UEFA Champions league song at the San Siro in our game against Tottenham [Hotspur], I got the chills..." 

Inter look set to become Champions League regulars again. They invested well in the squad over the summer and sit third in Serie A after eight matches.

United don't seem the most appetising of teams, either, as they are eighth in the Premier League after eight games, seven points off the summit. Skriniar recently responded directly to rumours linking him with Jose Mourinho's side, per sports writer David Amoyal:

The Red Devils' centre-back issues are nothing new. It appeared the club was on to a winner with 2016 arrival Eric Bailly, but after a solid first few months at Old Trafford, he's slipped into the rotation with Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

Lindelof, the other member of that quartet to have arrived since Mourinho was appointed manager in May 2016, has failed to impress as hoped. Midfielders Ander Herrera and Scott McTominay have even been deployed in defence this season over other, more natural options.

There's also Marcos Rojo, who has yet to make a first-team appearance this season after he was injured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Argentina defender missed 31 matches last term and has been injured for 76 games overall since joining United in 2014, per Transfermarkt.

The English giants' summer interest in a new central defender was widespread, and former England boss Fabio Capello told Sky Calcio Live that United had another Serie A target (h/t Calciomercato.com, via Sport Witness):

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News provided more details on the cost it would take to prise Skriniar from Inter:

A £76 million outlay for a defender with the potential of Skriniar, who doesn't turn 24 until February, could be well worth it in today's market. He played every minute of Inter's 40-match campaign last season—when he picked up only three yellow cards—and has never had a serious injury.

However, Inter may not be willing to let Skriniar leave given Miranda is 34 and is out of contract at the end of this season.

Add to the equation the fact that the Slovak appears enamoured with Inter and is ready to commit his future to the club, and United may be better off investing their time in chasing more realistic targets.