United deal to bring in PSV star all but done.
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Manchester United look to have found their replacement for Paul Scholes as David Moyes will make PSV’s Kevin Strootman his first major signing of the summer.
The Dutch midfielder has been a target for United for some time, and the Red Devils are understood to have stepped up their interest in him this summer following Scholes’ retirement from the game.
New United boss Moyes has been keen to get his midfield issue addressed as he looks to take on the difficult task of replacing legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
There may be further arrivals yet, with the likes of Claudio Marchisio and Nemanja Matic being linked with the club, but Strootman’s immediate availability for a relatively low price of £15million has seen United keen to push the deal through, and it is expected that he will be unveiled by the club in the coming days after the finalisation of a few more details.
The 23-year-old jetted in to England to complete the move following his side’s exit in the European Under-21 Championships, where he impressed for the Netherlands in front of Moyes’ scouting team.
Although still eligible for the Under-21 side, Strootman is also a full Dutch international with 18 caps and one goal for the senior team, and has notched up 187 appearances in the Eredivisie already, featuring for the likes of Sparta Rotterdam and FC Utrecht before joining PSV in 2011.
His fine form for the Dutch giants also saw him attract attention from the likes of Arsenal, but he has supposedly been keen to wait for the right offer, and is confident in his ability to find success at Old Trafford.
United have already signed Uruguayan youngster Guillermo Varela, but Strootman is a big name that should convince United fans of their ability to still attract top talent even after the departure of Ferguson.
More additions in midfield may follow, as Moyes is said to be uncertain about the futures of the likes of Anderson and Tom Cleverley, meaning he will hope to persuade Marchisio to join the club from Juventus, and consider meeting Benfica’s considerable asking price for Serbian playmaker Matic.
United are also in the market for wingers and strikers this summer, as the likes of Wayne Rooney and Nani could be on their way out of the club. Another Benfica player Nicolas Gaitain has been linked with the club, as have strikers Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema.