Man Utd Transfers: 10 Players Van Gaal Must Target In January

3. Kevin Strootman

Manchester United should also target Kevin Strootman in the January transfer window. United were linked with Strootman through the summer and their aforementioned problems in the centre of midfield are going to have to be addressed at some point if the likes of Anderson and Marouane Fellaini continue to struggle. This winter might actually be the best time to sign Strootman. The Roma midfielder sustained a knee injury back in March that ruled him out for the rest of the 2013-14 season and also the World Cup. He isn't expected to return to competitive action until the end of this month at the earliest having been told he'd face six months out, and had United signed him this summer, they wouldn't have been able to play him right away. But he should be back playing again in the New Year and close to his best following his nightmare layoff which makes him a brilliant winter target. He knows Louis van Gaal's philosophy and style of play having played under him for the Netherlands while his highly-physical, tough-tackling style of play has seen him draw comparisons to United legend Roy Keane, a player who the Red Devils have never managed to replace.