Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has reportedly appointed his fellow Dutchman Kevin Strootman as his number one midfield priority at Manchester United, despite the Roma star to be out of action until the autumn.
Strootman, who suffered a serious knee injury in March that ruled him out of Netherland's World Cup squad, is unlikely to be back in action until around October but the new United boss Van Gaal has not been put off and has sanctioned a 25 million-pound bid for the Serie A club midfielder.
According to the Daily Express, Strootman joined the Italian club from PSV Eindhoven last summer in a transfer worth around 16 million-pounds, but speculations are that the midfielder would love to link up with his international manager at Old Trafford.
Strootman is also reportedly believed to be close friends with United striker Robin van Persie, who is likely to be the club's new captain under the Dutchman.
Van Gaal is hoping that Roma would accept the offer for a player who would miss the first couple of months of the new season, the report added.
