Rumour: Manchester United line up £32 million bid for Roma star Kevin Strootman

Kevin Strootman joined Roma last summer in a deal worth €17 million

Manchester United are set to bid for Roma’s Kevin Strootman this summer, despite his knee injury, as the Red Devils look to bolster their midfield ranks, report the Sport Witness.

The Dutch international will miss the World Cup in Brazil after he picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in March and is not expected to return to full fitness in time for the start of next season.

However, United are prepared to push forward with the transfer even without assurances over the midfielder’s return date, with a reported £32 million bid in the pipeline.

Complications have been commonplace on the road to recovery for players that have suffered similar injuries, but Strootman is highly rated by Louis van Gaal, who is expected to be named United’s next manager within a week and could be persuaded to make a move to England’s top flight.

The 62-year-old Holland manager is expected to revert away from his favoured 4-3-3 formation with the Oranje in Brazil such is the regard he holds Strootman in.

Even though he benefits from a glowing recommendation from Van Gaal such a substantial fee for a player that is unlikely to feature until Christmas remains a huge gamble for United, who desperately need both a creative spark and defensive steel in the centre of the park.

Meanwhile, the Italian outfit have earmarked Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira as a possible replacement should Strootman opt to leave.