Manchester United have denied reports that Nicky Butt is a �10m transfer target for Inter Milan.

Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon dismissed newspaper claims that the Italians are ready to move for the 27-year-old midfielder.

Butt's displays for England in the World Cup were said to have attracted the Italians' attention.

However, Kenyon told BBC Sport Online that the speculation was wide of the mark.

He said on Thursday: "No approach has been made for Nicky Butt. It's an incorrect report."

Butt's impressive England form during the World Cup raised his international profile as he stood in for injured Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson added: "Over the years I've had more phone calls about him than any of them simply because of the situation he found himself in.

"But it has never been an issue for us to sell him. I have never been tempted to sell Nicky and that's still the same today."

"He's never moaned about the times when he's not been in my team and he's always been ready whenever we've asked him. That shows the sort of character he is."

"Nicky was the star man for England in the World Cup.

"He was absolutely fantastic and it couldn't have happened to a better lad because he's had to wait," Ferguson told manutd.com.