Somebody needs to tell Nemanja Vidic and Manchester United to make up their minds. Barely hours ago, the Serbian centre-back appeared destined to return to Old Trafford to help his old club relieve its current defensive woes.

Sections of the press were very confident the deal would happen. But a potential glorious homecoming for the defender, who currently plies his trade for Serie A outfit Inter Milan, was soon quashed by his agent Silvano Martina.

The player’s representative delivered some damning quotes almost as the ink was still drying on the initial reports, per Italian journalist David Amoyal:

In case you were still in any doubt, or perhaps didn’t see the word “lies” as strong enough, Martina emphasised his point:

Now all that’s left is to sit back and wait for somebody to say Mr. Martina is protesting a little too much.

The carnival started earlier when Vidic was supposedly “on the verge” of re-joining the Red Devils, according to Daily Star reporter Chisanga Malata:

Reports earlier today suggested that Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal was eager to re-sign the Serbian, who made over 300 appearances for the Red Devils, due to the team’s current defensive crisis.

But fresh reports suggest the Dutchman has already held talks with Inter and agreed a deal to bring him back.

The merits of bringing Vidic back to English shores were obvious. United have been hemorrhaging central defenders this season.

Manager Louis van Gaal has been forced into relying on raw and unproven youngsters in the form of Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair. He could certainly use a player with Vidic’s experience and ability to organise what has been a chaotic defence, even if only on a short-term basis.

Sunday World and ESPN writer Kevin Palmer believed that’s exactly what Vidic would represent:

But Vidic’s Nani-esque backflip, not something you’d ever seem him do on the pitch, regarding a potential return is a mild blow for United. It’s one more potential reinforcement for an inexperienced and threadbare defence that has been snatched from Van Gaal‘s apparent grasp.

Perhaps the cash-rich Red Devils can now devote their full attention to pursuing a big-bucks deal for Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin. B/R’s Guillem Balague has already discussed what Godin would bring to United’s flailing rearguard.

Van Gaal will know he needs to move quickly because he’s running out of options for reinforcements at the back.

French publication Le10 Sport (h/t Squawka writer Jack Watson) has revealed that AS Monaco have no intention of selling talented young full-back Layvin Kurzawa:

Manchester United and Arsenal target Layvin Kurzawa is staying put in Monaco for the time being according to the club’s vice president Vadim Vasilyev.

The 22-year-old has impressed at left-back for the Ligue 1 club that finished runners-up last season, which earned him his first call-up to France’s senior squad under Didier Deschamps. He has gone on to win two caps for Les Bleus and his performances for club and country has attracted a number of admirers.

As a stout and athletic defender versatile enough to flip-flop between full-back and central defender, Kurzawa would be a steal for Van Gaal. He would afford the Dutchman the option to adopt three- and four-man structures depending on the opponent.

Van Gaal loves that sort of tactical flexibility. However, it’s easy to believe that a continuity of system, since injuries are preventing one of personnel, might be the real tonic for United’s issues at the back.

Of course, no matter what formation he plays, Van Gaal needs numbers and quality for the United defence. That’s going to require a cessation of an alarming injury list, as well as an influx of new talent.

For the latter at least, it seems Van Gaal will have to keep looking.

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