The Red Devils will wait until making a move for Strootman.
Despite being extremely keen on signing AS Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is prepared to wait until January to complete a £30m transfer, reports the Guardian.
This is because the Netherlands international is currently out with a cruciate ligament injury and the 24-year-old is not expected to return to first team action until late 2014.
Strootman’s agent Chiel Dekker has admitted that there is interest from van Gaal, but as yet not contact has been made between the two clubs over a move.
“He is of interest to Louis van Gaal but not related to Manchester United at this point,” Dekker said.
“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.”
Van Gaal would be the key in tempting Strootman to Old Trafford as the pair know each other well from the 62-year-old’s time in charge of the Dutch national team.
He will step down from that role after the 2014 World Cup – a tournament the midfielder is missing due to his injury – to focus solely on United and the task at hand.
It’s understood van Gaal is keen to recruit in several areas, but the Red Devils’ lack of Champions League football for next season makes them a less desirable destination for many players.
Roma meanwhile are back in Europe’s top club competition, thanks partly to Strootman, and having only arrived at the Stadio Olimpico from PSV Eindhoven in 2013, convincing the Dutch star to leave could prove to be difficult.
READ MORE: Manchester United transfer rumours.
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