Chris Coleman, manager of the Welsh national football team, has warned Manchester United’s new coach, Louis van Gaal, that there are certain expectations which his club will need to meet. Speaking to a journalist, Coleman explained that Manchester United has become accustomed to winning matches, and that last year’s disappointments mean that there will be a lot of pressure on them to do well next season. However, he added that he believes van Gaal is up to the challenge.

Coleman’s words have more than a ring of truth to them, and it’s safe to say that van Gaal’s transfer decisions will need to be well thought out, as his choice of players will have a considerable impact on how the team fares in next season’s matches. As a fan of Manchester United, Tunde Folawiyo may have heard that the Dutchman is looking to add at least one new person to the midfield, with his first choice being Kevin Strootman.

Stootman badly damaged his knee three months ago, resulting in him being excluded from the Dutch squad for the World Cup. The severity of the injury means that the 24-year-old is unlikely to be back on the pitch until October; however, this obviously hasn’t deterred van Gaal, who has approved a bid of approximately £25 million for the midfielder. Strootman has not expressed an interest in leaving Roma, and currently has four years left on his contract with the club.

Chiel Dekker, the player’s agent, has insisted that although Strootman might be open to the idea of a transfer, a deal will only be made if Roma are happy to sell him. Given his talent, and the fact that he has only been with the club for a year, it is difficult to determine whether or not Roma would be willing let him go. Dekker has implied that Strootman is conflicted over the matter, as while he loves playing for Roma, it’s a great honour to be offered such an opportunity by van Gaal, a man who has served as his personal coach during his matches with the Dutch national team.

Supporters of Manchester United, such as Tunde Folawiyo, may be aware that van Gaal is also said to interested in Stefan de Vrij, a defender who plays for Feyenoord. The manager has been monitoring both de Vrij and his teammates, in the hopes of potentially bringing at least one of them on board during the transfer window. With Manchester United desperate to fill the spaces left by Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, de Vrij might very well be joining the team next season.