United Target Would Prefer Premier League Move Despite Napoli Interest

Manchester United target Kevin Strootman still has his heart set on a move to the Premier League despite receiving an approach from Napoli, his agent has revealed.

The PSV Eindhoven midfielder has remained silent on his future in recent weeks while featuring for the Holland Under-21 squad at the European Championships in Israel.

But following the Oranje's exit at the hands of their Italian counterparts last weekend, the 23-year-old's future has once again been brought into discussion, and although Rafa Benitez's Napoli have made an initial approach for Strootman the midfielder is likely to wait for an offer to arrive from an English club.

"Napoli's interest is indeed serious and the club have already approached us," Strootman's representative Chiel Dekker is quoted as saying in Voetbal international.

"Kevin has never made a secret of the fact that he prefers the Premier League."

Strootman is widely reported to be one of David Moyes' primary targets as he waits to make his own mark on the United squad. Although the Premier League champions have already brought in Uruguayan youngster Guillermo Varela, the club are likely to have decided on that particularl deal months ago after the 20-year-old impressed during trial spells with the club in April.

Midfield remains the area where United require strengthening ahead of the new season. Questions remain over what role Anderson and Darren Fletcher will have in the squad in the upcoming campaign, while the role youngster Nick Powell will play in the squad next year remains unconfirmed.

The club also remain heavily linked with Barcelona's Thiago Alcantara, but similarly to Strootman he has refused to be drawn on his future until the conclusion of the Under-21 tournament, with the Spaniard set to feature in Tuesday's final against Italy.

United have been linked with the all-action Strootman since last summer, but may have their hand forced by Napoli's early efforts to secure the midfielder's services.

Newly appointed manager Rafa Benitez has been linked with a number of players across Europe, including an array of players he worked with during his tenure as Liverpool manager, and will be quietly confident of securing some of those names with the promise of Champions League football next season likely to be a favoured negotiating tool.