The agent of AS Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman has admitted the Holland international is of interest of Louis van Gaal.
The 62-year-old will take over the reigns at Manchester United after stepping down from his managerial post with Holland, post the World Cup campaign with the national team. The Manchester Evening News reported says the 24-year-old will join the Dutchman at Old Trafford this summer.
Strootman suffered a horrific knee injury earlier in March and is out of action until the autumn – also missing the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. His representative Chiel Dekker admitted despite Van Gaal’s interest in his client, it has got nothing to do with United.
“He won’t be back playing until autumn – that’s the time schedule at the moment. He is of interest to Louis van Gaal but not related to Manchester United at this point,” Dekker told the Guardian.
“Could be but he’s in Rome and he had a terrific season. There has been nothing between the clubs or between Louis and Kevin – they know each other and like each other but at this stage it’s not related to Man United.”
“Roma do not want to sell. The first thing is it’s all between [the] clubs. And it’s also a very difficult decision because he has to choose between a fantastic club in Rome, a club that bought him and supported him while he was injured and [then] you have his personal coach of the national team at United.”
“The clubs have to decide. He’s very happy at Rome, he’s happy to stay because they play Champions League next season and happy to recover [from] his injury, so at this stage we are not part of any discussion,” Strootman’s agent concluded.
The Guardian reports United could make an approach for signing Strootman in the January transfer window, which could see the Red Devils cough around £30m for the Serie A midfielder.
Should United sign him in the summer, it will be of no use for either Van Gaal or the club as he would still be ruled out due to an injury. Instead, the Red Devils can focus on other midfield targets and land Strootman in the mid-season transfer window.
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