Hugo Borst: Manchester United Have Already Agreed a Deal to Sign Kevin Strootman from AS Roma

Manchester United have already agreed a move to sign AS Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman according to Dutch journalist Hugo Borst.

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the Dutch midfielder right through the summer transfer window, and Louis van Gaal has also admitted an interest in signing Strootman, but the player's long term knee injury was a stumbling block when it came to completing the transfer.

The former Feyenoord star suffered a knee injury just before the end of last season, which saw him miss the 2014 World Cup. He is currently on the verge of making a return to first-team action.

The Manchester based club are considering yet another move during the January transfer window, but the 24-year-old midfielder has distanced himself from a move to United. The Serie A club's president James Palotta has also made it clear that the midfielder is not for sale.

But Borst, who was a close ally of Van Gaal, has confirmed that the United manager and the midfielder have already 'shaken hands' on the deal to take him to Old Trafford next summer.

"In the spring of 2014 there was a match between PSV and Feyenoord," Borst told talkSPORT.

"Robin van Persie was in the stands, along with Louis van Gaal. On the other side was Kevin Strootman. The pair chatted; this was when people knew Van Gaal was going to Manchester United."

"Van Gaal asked Strootman whether he was interested in playing for Manchester United, and he said he was very willing. They have shaken hands on the deal," the Dutch journalist added.

However, he has confirmed that any deal will only take place in the summer and that Strootman will remain a Roma player for the remainder of the season.

"It won't be in January but it will be next summer. He is an outstanding player," Borst concluded.