Manchester United target Kevin Strootman wants a January move to Old Trafford

Van Gaal is ready to make a £25million swoop for Strootman in the new year and the Holland international is doing all he can to ready himself for the move

Kevin Strootman is manoeuvring himself into a position for a January move to Manchester United.

United boss Louis van Gaal is a huge admirer of Strootman but decided against making a move for him this summer as the Roma midfielder is only just back from a long-term knee injury.


 

But Van Gaal is ready to make a £25million swoop for Strootman in the new year and the Holland international – who missed the World Cup – is doing all he can to ready himself for the move.


Strootman, 24, has ditched his agent Chiel Dekker and has joined SEG - the Sports Entertainment Group - who were involved in Robin van Persie's move from Arsenal to United.

Van Gaal sees Strootman as the ideal choice to play the holding midfield role for United and has been told by the Old Trafford board he will have funds to spend in January.

Strootman is now in the final stage of his recovery and hopes to make his long-awaited comeback early next month, with Van Gaal and his coaching staff ready to monitor his progress.