United In Touch Over Dutch Midfielder

Manchester United have contacted the agent of midfielder Kevin Strootman, over the PSV Eindhoven star's availability.

Strootman, who joined PSV in the summer of 2011, helped the club claim the Dutch Cup in his first season at the club.

This term has seen the 22 year old feature in every Eredivisie game as PSV have led the way domestically, with FC Twente, Vitesse Arnhem and Ajax trailing in their wake.

The Netherlands midfielder's box-to-box style has reportedly attracted interest from a host of Premier League sides, and the current leaders United are said to one of those to have made an enquiry.

"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," Strootman's agent Chiel Dekker said.

United's midfield has often been accused of being light weight and lacking in goals, but in Strootman, Sir Alex Ferguson would have himself a midfielder whose prowess at both ends of the pitch has made him an ever present during Netherlands' World Cup qualifying campaign.

With the club still relying on Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, the 19-time league champions could do with improving their midfield options, while with Michael Carrick at 31 and Darren Fletcher still to start back-to-back league games since his return from illness, the United could be short in the area come next season.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper David de Gea has spoken of the pressure he feels when representing United, in a position he has failed to cement this season.

De Gea has made seven league starts this term, with Dane Anders Lindegaard making six as Ferguson continues to rotate his two goalkeepers this term.

And the 22 year old says he is conscious of every mistake he makes given the pressure of playing between the sticks at Old Trafford.

"I'm at a huge club and there are big demands on you," De Gea said. "As a goalkeeper I'm well aware that any mistake can be magnified by the press and the fans. That's always the case for goalkeepers, no matter where you play.

"But it's true that here at Manchester United there's added pressure. It's bigger than it was for me at Atletico Madrid and also for the Spain Under-21 team. It's a challenge."