Agent rules out Defour January move

Sport.co.uk can exclusively rule out any January move for much coveted Belgian international and Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour.

Defour is being followed closely by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, while Liverpool are also monitoring the player's progress.

Speaking exclusively to Sport.co.uk, the player's chief representative Paul Stefani said the 22-year-old would remain at current club Standard Liege for the remainder of the season to recover from injury.

"He's injured at the moment. He's out for three months," he said.

Defour has been relentlessly linked with Manchester United.

Asked if there was any chance that a move could be agreed, Stefani promptly rebuffed the rumours.

He said: "No, no it's impossible. A January move is impossible."

The player's representative had previously told Sport.co.uk that as many as seven clubs were interested in Defour.

"Yes, it is true he is being watched. He is being monitored by seven clubs at the moment from England, France, Spain and Italy."

Stefani was then asked if a January move was in the pipe line.

He replied: "We don't know. It depends on the club and whether or not there is a big move in the January window that could see other people move.

"I have received positive phone calls from clubs in the UK, who have said they can do things, so we will wait and see."

However, another injury set-back means a January move is out of the question.

Defour was voted the most valuable player in the Belgian league in 2008, however a leg break sustained in September 2009 has halted his progress. Another injury is sure to raise questions over his fitness levels.

Ferguson even wrote a reassuring letter to the player after hearing of his previous injury, which ruled him out of much of the 2008-09 Champions League campaign. He promised to keep in touch, obviously keen to monitor the youngsters' progress.

The Belgian had recovered from the break, and has impressed with his domestic form for Liege. United were the favourites to land the midfielder in January, however, this is now unfeasible.

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