Louis van Gaal has rejected a bid from AC Milan to take Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini on loan at the San Siro.

Fellaini, a £27.5m signing from Everton in August 2013, has started just four Premier League games for United this season and has struggled to convince Van Gaal of his merits as a regular starter.

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The Belgium international’s fall down the pecking order at Old Trafford had prompted Milan to approach United about a potential loan move, ahead of a permanent deal in the summer.

But with United currently short on attacking options following the summer departures of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Javier Hernandez, Van Gaal is reluctant to further weaken his striking department by allowing Fellaini to leave.

Despite spending his career as a midfielder, Fellaini has been used as an auxiliary striker by Van Gaal since the Dutchman’s arrival as manager in the summer of 2014 and, at times, has given United a decisive alternative when chasing games.

Shape Created with Sketch. Manchester United: Players linked with transfers Show all 23 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Manchester United: Players linked with transfers 1/23 Ahmed Musa Leicester City have been sniffing around the CSKA Moscow striker but United may hijack the deal, given their desperate need for pace and movement up front. Getty Images 2/23 Franco Vazquez The Italian international would offer a dynamic presence in attacking midfield, having impressed during his time at Palermo. Getty Images 3/23 <b>IN: </b>Neymar (Barcelona) A long-term target of vice-chairman Ed Woodward but a fanciful one, who is said to want to move to a club where he will be the top dog. However, the Brazilian is negotiating a new deal at the Nou Camp and will use any reported interest as leverage in the contract talks. Getty Images 4/23 Renato Sanches (Benfica) Only 18-years-old but highly rated by the Portuguese club. United's scouts have watched the teenage midfielder multiple times in recent weeks and talks are already said to have taken place. Could cost £30m. Getty Images 5/23 Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) After Ashley Young's groin surgery United are facing a crisis at the back. Ryan Bertrand is said to be a target but when Luke Shaw returns will he really want to sit on the bench? 2015 Getty Images 6/23 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all chasing the Bayern Munich striker, who has grown restless in Germany. His fee would be around £70m in the summer. 7/23 Eden Hazard (Chelsea) The stand-out player of 2014/15 has stunk out 2015/16 and suffered a torrid few months at Stamford Bridge. A fresh start may be in order and his movement would be very welcome in United's static frontline. 8/23 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) A long-term target, no doubt, but January may be a bit too soon. The Welshman’s troubles in Spain have eased slightly this term but he still plays second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu. At Old Trafford, he would take centre stage. The question is whether Bale, and Real president Florentino Perez, would be ready to call quits on record-breaking move to the Spanish giants. Getty Images 9/23 Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had to tell Ed Woodward to stop emailing him earlier this year, so persistent were Manchester United in their chase of Muller. The roving forward would be a perfect fit at Old Trafford but any move would be a major coup. Getty Images 10/23 Edinson Cavani (PSG) United are in desperate need of some attacking reinforcements, and the Uruguayan would surely be able to aid them in their quest for goals and attacking flair. He would cost a hefty fee but always seems to be unhappy at the French club. 2015 Getty Images 11/23 Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht) The young Belgian midfielder, 18, is widely courted due to his versatility throughout the midfield. He would add genuine energy to United’s engine room, but would likely be one for the future with Louis van Gaal's squad currently brimming with central midfielders. 12/23 Breel Embolo (Basel) The Swiss forward is still raw but direct in his play and would help bolster United’s meagre attacking options. Still only 18, it is possible that he and Anthony Martial could form a partnership which would provide United fans with years of entertainment. 13/23 Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain) Behind both Thiago Silva and David Luiz in the PSG pecking order, the Brazilian is frustrated with a lack of opportunites at the Parc des Princes. He's also attracted the interest of Chelsea. 14/23 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan) After making his debut in goal for Milan at the tender age of 16, clubs have been keen to see whether they can tie up a deal for the goalkeeper while he is still young. If United were to secure his signing, he could act as an excellent understudy (and potential future replacement) to David de Gea. However, his agent Mino Raiola has already said he is worth £150m. 15/23 Oumar Niasse The Lokomotiv Moscow striker was voted the Russian Premier League’s player of 2015 and is being monitored by a host of Premier League clubs. GETTY IMAGES 16/23 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) A more realistic target perhaps but the Algerian playmaker would still come at a cost. He has been, alongside Leicester City teammate Jamie Vardy, the Premier League’s stand-out performer this season. The question is whether he could maintain such form consistently and on a bigger stage. The Foxes meanwhile have no interest in selling. Getty Images 17/23 Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Consistent goals at Everton have seen the Belgium international linked with a host of clubs, including Manchester United. It's claimed Everton would want £65m in order to sell. 18/23 Sadio Mane (Southampton) When United sounded out a move for the Senegalese forward at the end of the last transfer window, Southampton valued him between £35-40m. There is no suggestion that Mane’s pricetag has changed but then again, this is the United that paid a potential £58m for the relatively unproven Anthony Martial. That didn’t work out so terribly… 19/23 Felipe Anderson (Lazio) The 22-year-old Brazilian winger is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe, despite a difficult start to the season, and has regularly been linked with a move to United. Ed Woodward may have to beat competition from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain if he is to take Anderson off Lazio’s hands. 20/23 James Rodriguez (midfield) Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez faces an uncertain future after new head coach Zinedine Zidane left him out of the first-team named in his opening match in charge of the club. With Isco preferred in a three-man midfield, Rodriguez could decide that he needs to leave the club in order to secure first-team football. Getty Images 21/23 Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United) A lack of pace in attack has often been cited as one of the main problems for Louis van Gaal’s side. Perez would solve that, as well as providing a useful option off the bench. 22/23 Matteo Darmian (defender) The 26-year-old Italian made a bright start to his Old Trafford career but has since gone off the boil. At times, he's struggled to get into Louis van Gaal's side, with Ashley Young preferred as a makeshift right-back. A move back to Serie A could be on the cards. 2015 Manchester United FC 23/23 Marcos Rojo (defender) The Argentinian has struggled with injuries since joining 18 months ago and was exiled for a short time after missing his flight for the club's pre-season tour. United could be ready to cut their losses on the £16million defender this January. Getty Images 1/23 Ahmed Musa Leicester City have been sniffing around the CSKA Moscow striker but United may hijack the deal, given their desperate need for pace and movement up front. Getty Images 2/23 Franco Vazquez The Italian international would offer a dynamic presence in attacking midfield, having impressed during his time at Palermo. Getty Images 3/23 <b>IN: </b>Neymar (Barcelona) A long-term target of vice-chairman Ed Woodward but a fanciful one, who is said to want to move to a club where he will be the top dog. However, the Brazilian is negotiating a new deal at the Nou Camp and will use any reported interest as leverage in the contract talks. Getty Images 4/23 Renato Sanches (Benfica) Only 18-years-old but highly rated by the Portuguese club. United's scouts have watched the teenage midfielder multiple times in recent weeks and talks are already said to have taken place. Could cost £30m. Getty Images 5/23 Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) After Ashley Young's groin surgery United are facing a crisis at the back. Ryan Bertrand is said to be a target but when Luke Shaw returns will he really want to sit on the bench? 2015 Getty Images 6/23 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all chasing the Bayern Munich striker, who has grown restless in Germany. His fee would be around £70m in the summer. 7/23 Eden Hazard (Chelsea) The stand-out player of 2014/15 has stunk out 2015/16 and suffered a torrid few months at Stamford Bridge. A fresh start may be in order and his movement would be very welcome in United's static frontline. 8/23 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) A long-term target, no doubt, but January may be a bit too soon. The Welshman’s troubles in Spain have eased slightly this term but he still plays second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu. At Old Trafford, he would take centre stage. The question is whether Bale, and Real president Florentino Perez, would be ready to call quits on record-breaking move to the Spanish giants. Getty Images 9/23 Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had to tell Ed Woodward to stop emailing him earlier this year, so persistent were Manchester United in their chase of Muller. The roving forward would be a perfect fit at Old Trafford but any move would be a major coup. Getty Images 10/23 Edinson Cavani (PSG) United are in desperate need of some attacking reinforcements, and the Uruguayan would surely be able to aid them in their quest for goals and attacking flair. He would cost a hefty fee but always seems to be unhappy at the French club. 2015 Getty Images 11/23 Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht) The young Belgian midfielder, 18, is widely courted due to his versatility throughout the midfield. He would add genuine energy to United’s engine room, but would likely be one for the future with Louis van Gaal's squad currently brimming with central midfielders. 12/23 Breel Embolo (Basel) The Swiss forward is still raw but direct in his play and would help bolster United’s meagre attacking options. Still only 18, it is possible that he and Anthony Martial could form a partnership which would provide United fans with years of entertainment. 13/23 Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain) Behind both Thiago Silva and David Luiz in the PSG pecking order, the Brazilian is frustrated with a lack of opportunites at the Parc des Princes. He's also attracted the interest of Chelsea. 14/23 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan) After making his debut in goal for Milan at the tender age of 16, clubs have been keen to see whether they can tie up a deal for the goalkeeper while he is still young. If United were to secure his signing, he could act as an excellent understudy (and potential future replacement) to David de Gea. However, his agent Mino Raiola has already said he is worth £150m. 15/23 Oumar Niasse The Lokomotiv Moscow striker was voted the Russian Premier League’s player of 2015 and is being monitored by a host of Premier League clubs. GETTY IMAGES 16/23 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) A more realistic target perhaps but the Algerian playmaker would still come at a cost. He has been, alongside Leicester City teammate Jamie Vardy, the Premier League’s stand-out performer this season. The question is whether he could maintain such form consistently and on a bigger stage. The Foxes meanwhile have no interest in selling. Getty Images 17/23 Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Consistent goals at Everton have seen the Belgium international linked with a host of clubs, including Manchester United. It's claimed Everton would want £65m in order to sell. 18/23 Sadio Mane (Southampton) When United sounded out a move for the Senegalese forward at the end of the last transfer window, Southampton valued him between £35-40m. There is no suggestion that Mane’s pricetag has changed but then again, this is the United that paid a potential £58m for the relatively unproven Anthony Martial. That didn’t work out so terribly… 19/23 Felipe Anderson (Lazio) The 22-year-old Brazilian winger is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe, despite a difficult start to the season, and has regularly been linked with a move to United. Ed Woodward may have to beat competition from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain if he is to take Anderson off Lazio’s hands. 20/23 James Rodriguez (midfield) Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez faces an uncertain future after new head coach Zinedine Zidane left him out of the first-team named in his opening match in charge of the club. With Isco preferred in a three-man midfield, Rodriguez could decide that he needs to leave the club in order to secure first-team football. Getty Images 21/23 Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United) A lack of pace in attack has often been cited as one of the main problems for Louis van Gaal’s side. Perez would solve that, as well as providing a useful option off the bench. 22/23 Matteo Darmian (defender) The 26-year-old Italian made a bright start to his Old Trafford career but has since gone off the boil. At times, he's struggled to get into Louis van Gaal's side, with Ashley Young preferred as a makeshift right-back. A move back to Serie A could be on the cards. 2015 Manchester United FC 23/23 Marcos Rojo (defender) The Argentinian has struggled with injuries since joining 18 months ago and was exiled for a short time after missing his flight for the club's pre-season tour. United could be ready to cut their losses on the £16million defender this January. Getty Images

Van Gaal has backed strikers Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial up-front, however, and with opportunities increasingly limited in midfield, Fellaini faces an extended diet of substitute appearances in the coming months before assessing his future at the end of the season.

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