6 Assists With 88% Passing Accuracy – Will This Dutch Star Fit At Manchester United?

Louis van Gaal was in active pursuit of Roma’s Kevin Strootman till the transfer window shut. It was suggested that the pursuit would continue in the January transfer window. United have Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, the ill-fated Marouane Fellaini, the player who was David Moyes’ big splurge – Juan Mata, the man who almost did not reach United – Ander Herrera and Louis van Gaal’s addition – Daley Blind in central midfield. Kevin Strootman was expected to replace an outgoing Marouane Fellaini, who had not proven his worth over last season.

However, Manchester United have looked much stronger in central midfield, ever since Marouane Fellaini rediscovered himself post his injury – the very same injury that scuppered his move to Napoli and kept him at United to fight for his place in the team. Suddenly, the person whom Kevin Strootman could end up replacing could be Darren Fletcher or Michael Carrick, especially since Kevin Strootman lends solidity to the midfield and will be good cover for Ander Herrera or Daley Blind, or could even play alongside them.

Last season in Serie A, Strootman scored 5 goals, bagged 6 assists and his passing accuracy stands at impressive 88.4%. Strootman’s playingstyle almost match those of Ander Herrera, which could also push Juan Mata out of the club, as he could work alongside Fellaini or Herrera as a box-to-box midfielder and speed up the gameplay, which slows down as soon as Mata is on the ball. Louis van Gaal could recoup the outlay on Mata by selling him off to clubs that will be in plenty to woo him over. Strootman has played under Louis van Gaal before, and knows what he will need to do, which should help him slot into the club faster. He adds to the physicality and the agility of the midfield, which bodes well for a United side which needs a good midfield base to cover for the defense and support a powerful attack.

Kevin-Strootman

Kevin Strootman at Roma over the last season was playing centrally at the tip of a three-man midfield, which could be different from his role at United, but he creates chances more often, which will be appreciated by his strikers at United, who need half-a-chance to pounce and score goals. He has good pace and strength, which shows in his successful take-ons, in the Serie A, which is as physical as the Premier League, as most teams play with three-man midfields which come up against each other, which means that the marking is more tense.

Strootman will easily fit into a van Gaal-led side, and will make his mark at United, even though he has not played due to injury throughout the season. It might be easier for him to start off afresh at United after his injury, training in the way in which he is supposed to perform. United will be better-off with him in the side, because he can add to the passing aspect of the side, with his attacking style of passing which finds attackers lying in wait of a pass to capitalize upon and finish with a goal. Rather than have to be a savior to a falling side, which would have been the case in the earlier transfer window, when the confidence of United’s midfield was at an all-time low, he can now be a part of a midfield that is looking more and more confident with every game.