Bologna director Marco di Vaio has revealed that the club have no plans to sell forward Marko Arnautovic this summer, amid reported interest from Manchester United.
Last weekend, the 33-year-old emerged as a surprise transfer target for the Red Devils, who are understood to have seen a £7.6m bid rejected for the Austria international.
Arnautovic's agent and brother Danijel Arnautovic has since revealed that a "well-known club" have recently made an offer for his client.
"It's true that there's a bid from a well-known club. I'm in contact with Bologna to see if that can be realised," Danijel Arnautovic told Kurier Sport.
The former West Ham United and Stoke City forward is believed to be "fascinated" by a proposed return to the Premier League and is keen to reunite with both Erik ten Hag and his assistant Steve McLaren at Old Trafford.
Arnautovic played under McLaren during his time at Eredivisie outfit FC Twente in 2008, with Ten Hag employed as the latter's assistant coach.
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Bologna chief Di Vaio has admitted that he is "proud" of Man United's interest in Arnautovic but has expressed his desire to keep hold of the forward this summer.
Speaking to reporters, via journalist Fabrizio Romano, Di Vaio said: "Man United on Arnautovic? We're proud of Man Utd interest for Marko but we are not planning to sell him.
"We want to keep him at Bologna as president said, he's a key part of our project – there's not even a price tag".
Following Man United's disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, Teg Hag refused to be drawn on speculation linking Arnautovic with a move to Old Trafford.
"I don't go into names because I think in this pre-season 250 players are involved or linked with Manchester United, so that's it," the Dutchman told reporters on Sunday after the match.
"We have two strikers, maybe a third one, with Marcus Rashford as well. We considered him as a striker but he had a really good pre-season on the left side and today he had two really good chances coming in from the left side.
"So I think it was the right decision to do it like this. But the typical No.9 wasn't available today."
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After two years in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai Port, Arnautovic returned to Europe and joined Bologna last summer for around €3m (£2.5m).
The Vienna-born forward ended the 2021-22 campaign as the club's top scorer, netting 15 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions.
Arnautovic still has two years remaining on his contract at Bologna, and with the Italian side keen to keep hold of the Austrian, Man United may now consider alternatives for the final three-and-a-half weeks of the summer window.
The Red Devils have also been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko, with one report claiming that RB Leipzig are set to sign the 19-year-old in the summer of 2023.
Meanwhile, United have allegedly reached an agreement with Juventus to sign midfielder Adrien Rabiot for an initial fee of £15m which could rise to around £20m with add-ons.
Oliver Thomas
