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If reports is to be believed, AS Roma talisman Kevin Strootman has his heart set on a move to Manchester United. The news, albeit a rumour at this stage, would be music to the ears of the United faithful, who have long yearned for a dominating midfield presence ever since the retirement of the legendary Roy Keane.
Barring the brief promise offered by Owen Hargreaves, signed in 2007 from Bayern Munich, Manchester United has largely been forced to play second fiddle in big game midfield battles since the retirement of the fiery Irishman. Be it against Xavi and Iniesta from Barcelona or Yaya Toure and Fernandinho from Manchester City, the engine room has remained an area of concern. In crunch contests, United have repeatedly come up second best when it comes to controlling play and dictating tempo from the middle.
Strootman: The next Roy Keane?
Strootman has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford in the past. Dubbed the “Dutch Roy Keane” from his time at PSV Eindhoven, the signing of Strootman would go a long way in instilling bite and dynamism to the Red Devils’ midfield beside the sublime passing of Daley Blind and Michael Carrick along with the energy and ingenuity offered by Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria.
His box-to-box style of play would tick all the right boxes and beautifully compliment the traits of the current crop of midfielders in United’s ranks. Strong in the tackle, prompt in his interceptions and a metronomic passer, Strootman is a tactician’s dream. He is equally comfortable as a pivot in 4-3-3, a holding presence in a flat 4-4-2 or at the base of the diamond formation, breaking up play and physically dominating contests.
According to Squawka, the Dutch dynamo boasts of an impressive 88% passing accuracy, 41% average duels won and 47 chances created, also chipping in with 5 goals during the 2013-14 Serie A season, which is no mean feat for a holding midfielder.
Should Manchester United sign Strootman?
The current United midfield is clearly crying out for a player of Strootman’s calibre. With no direct competition either from the first team or the youth squad, Strootman, if signed, would clearly have a major role to play and will not be apprehensive of reduced game time contrary to Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, both being spoilt for options in their engine rooms.
Manager Louis van Gaal, a known admirer of the Dutchman’s qualities, should have no hesitation in forking out a fee in the region of £30 million for a player he knows well from his time as the Dutch national team coach. At 24 years of age, such a sum could prove to be a bargain.
Even, if Strootman fails to impress, the club will be able to capitalize on his resale value. Media reports suggest that the player currently earns £25,000 a week, which should quadruple at United and still sit comfortably within the club’s wage structure. Also, the prospect of Blind, Herrera and Strootman maturing together into a fearsome midfield triumvirate is enticing for any United fan, given their age group and potential.
An uncertain start under Van Gaal this season makes it all the more important for United to strengthen their squad in January and establish themselves as a dominant domestic and European force. The acquisition of Kevin Strootman could therefore prove vital.
