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Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman is thought to have confirmed that he wants to join Manchester United in January or in the summer transfer window. The Dutchman was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer, but it did not materialise due to several reasons. Roma did confirm a few weeks ago that it would take more than £ 75 million in order to persuade them to sell Strootman, who is a vital part of the team. Since Roma have returned to the Champions League, they are unlikely to be in desperate need of funds.

The 24-year-old is currently running around € 30,000 per week, which is vastly insignificant compared to his potential earnings of around € 120,000 per week at United. More importantly, he is keen to link up with his former international team manager, Louis van Gaal, who is in charge of United. The presence of Van Gaal has already helped United persuade key international players like Daley Blind to the club. Strootman’s public confirmation that he wants to leave has not come yet, but he could force Roma into selling him if the Italian club show any resistance once again. Roma have been doing well in the Italian league this campaign and they remain in contention for the title.

“It is just not happening. I have told the papers that they should stop wasting paper. We don’t have any interest in selling Kevin. Obviously as business people when people call us and say ‘we want your player’ you are going to listen to them. You have to do that, that is the business side. That doesn’t mean you are going to make a decision that [an offer of] £75m, bang you hit the bid. That is not the way it is going to work, it is not the way it does work with us,” said Roma’s billionaire owner a few months ago.

Video clip Score: 4 / 5

With the Premier League season nearing the halfway point; it’s clear that there are some of the world’s best goalkeepers currently playing in England’s top flight. From the top of the table to the bottom, the Premier League boasts more quality goalkeepers than any other division in European football.

While there has long been a view that goalkeepers don’t really reach their peak until the age of 30, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all opted for talented young stoppers in recent years and the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Wojciech Szczęsny and David de Gea have all established themselves among the world’s best despite being under the age of 25. (more…)

Movie Rating: four / 5

While some might have seen Vincente del Bosque’s decision to drop Iker Casillas for David de Gea in Spain’s European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg was because of the Real Madrid keeper’s mistake against Slovakia, there is a strong argument to suggest this was an inevitable move.

While Casillas has endured a tough few years, de Gea has quietly established himself as one of European football’s most impressive young goalkeepers, and the time may have come where the young pretender finally claims his place on the throne. (more…)

Movie Ranking: five / five

Online video Ranking: 4 / 5