Manchester United target January swoop for Kevin Strootman?

New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has reportedly made Kevin Strootman one of his major transfer targets, but will not launch a bid for the Roma midfielder until the January transfer window.

The Dutch international, who Van Gaal would almost certainly have taken to the World Cup this summer but for a knee injury, is not expected to return to action until the autumn.

Consequently, Van Gaal will not pursue the 24-year-old before August's deadline and will instead submit an offer to his Serie A employers of around £30m early in 2015, according to The Guardian.

The report adds that Strootman would be open to the prospect of joining his fellow countryman Van Gaal at Old Trafford.

Strootman joined Roma from PSV Eindhoven in 2013 for a reported £15m.