by David McDonnell
Manchester United are weighing up a £14million move for Dutch midfield enforcer Kevin Strootman.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been keeping tabs on the PSV Eindhoven star, with Darren Fletcher’s long-term United future still unclear.
Strootman, a member of Holland’s Euro 2012 squad, is facing an uncertain future at PSV following Dutch national-team captain Mark van Bommel’s return to the club.
That could leave the way clear for United to swoop for the 22-year-old, whose combative style has seen him likened to Roy Keane.
Although United are pushing ahead with a move for Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric, they also need to recruit a more defensive midfielder.
Strootman fits the bill for that role – a physically imposing player with impressive distribution, vision and aerial power, as well as a burst of pace.
He also fits in with United’s age policy of signing young players who will have a resale value, and is understood to want to play in the Premier League.
Strootman’s agent, Chiel Dekker, has already said any decision regarding the player’s future will not be made until after the Euros.
United midfielder Fletcher still has no firm date for a return from the bowel condition which brought a premature end to his season last November.
Ferguson and his staff are hopeful the Scotland international will make a full recovery, but are eyeing Strootman with a view to the long-term future.
Meanwhile, Crewe kid Nick Powell has sealed a £4m move to United, snubbing interest from Chelsea.
The Reds are paying £2.75m up front with the rest based on appearances.
Powell’s last act in a Crewe shirt was scoring one of the goals in their League Two play-off final defeat of Cheltenham at Wembley last month.
