Man United and Liverpool transfer news: Dutch enforcer set for Premier League
“I think the boy can go a long way,” former Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk said of the supremely gifted Kevin Strootman. To find out why so many clubs are clamouring for his signature, talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight did some digging...
Name: Kevin Strootman
Date of birth: 13/02/90
Born: Ridderkerk, Netherlands
Club: PSV
Position: Midfield
International: 16 Netherlands caps (correct as of 22/03/13)
What's the latest?
As reported in talkSPORT, PSV and the Netherlands' highly-rated midfielder Kevin Strootman has encouraged clubs like long-term admirers Man United to get in contact. However, it is not just United interested in the 23-year-old after Feyenoord confirmed that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was in attendance for their club's win against Strootman's PSV in February.
Did you know?
1) An excellent passer, Strootman's spatial awareness and all-round midfield qualities make him a very influential box-to-box midfielder. His winning mentality coupled with his elegance and vision are akin to Roy Keane, the type of player United fans will tell you they have missed since the former skipper's departure in 2005. The Dutchman has a lethal left foot, too.
2) Strootman began his career at Sparta Rotterdam in 2008, before signing for Utrecht in the 2011 January transfer window. He spent just six months there before signing for PSV in the summer along with Belgian hotshot Dries Mertens. Both players signed five-year deals.
3) In his first season at PSV, Strootman was a Dutch Cup winner, helping his side beat Heracles 3-0 in a game that saw his pal Mertens score.
4) Strootman has been capped 16 times by the Netherlands, the first came while at Utrecht when Bert van Marwijk called up him for a 3-1 friendly win against Austria in February 2011. He scored his first goal a few months later in September in a 2-0 Euro 2012 qualifier win against Finland (see video evidence below). Under Louis van Gaal the midfielder has captained the national side, with the manager labelling Strootman an example, saying he is someone who stands up for the team.
5) While still at Utrecht, Fulham were said to be monitoring him, until PSV swooped. Since his move to Eindhoven, he has been courted by Europe's biggest clubs and Wesley Sneijder even claimed to have been asked about his international team-mate by Inter sporting director Marco Branca during his time in Italy. “Quality is always more than welcome and Kevin has plenty of quality,” Sneijder said.
What is being said?
They say:
“All the top clubs in Europe know about Kevin, but a move to England next summer is his first priority and, yes, Manchester United and other big clubs in Europe have been in touch with me.”
- Chiel Dekker, Strootman's agent speaking in November 2012
He says:
“Every transfer window there are clubs that are interested, but a club must speak to me.”
Video evidence:
Have you seen Strootman play? Do you think he would be a good addition to the Premier League?