Tuesday, 2nd July, 2013
PSV Eindhoven midfielder Kevin Strootman has been strongly advised by his club to resist the temptations of a move abroad, despite one of his suitors being Premier League champions Manchester United.
Strootman has been hot on the Old Trafford radar this summer and with David Moyes formally taking charge yesterday, the list of potential new arrivals in Manchester will certainly have the Dutchman’s name included.
PSV will face a real test of their mettle to keep Strootman true to at least one more year of his contract – which runs until 2016 – having already seen a few players depart.
And it is an open question if Strootman, chased by Arsenal, AC Milan and Napoli alongside Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur scouts making a February trip, will become the latest name to leave.
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PSV technical director Marcel Brands has been rubber-stamping many an exit from the club this summer, but he told De Telegraaf: "We do not want to lose Strootman. He knows himself that he should play at PSV for another season."
Among the major departures have been Dries Mertens, who left for Napoli, with Jeremain Lens moving to Dynamo Kyiv and Erik Pieters choosing Stoke City.
The question of Ola Toivonen to Norwich City remains unresolved, but Brands added: "The departures of Lens and Pieters we had factored in, but Mertens’ transfer was certainly not planned."
PSV can take some heart from the arrivals gate at the Philips Stadion, which yesterday saw Adam Maher officially unveiled after making the move from AZ Alkmaar.
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