I t is widely accepted that Louis van Gaal is likely to be the next Manchester United manager not only thanks to his own good record with bi...
It is widely accepted that Louis van Gaal is likely to be the next Manchester United manager not only thanks to his own good record with big clubs, but also the lack of quality alternatives available.
The obligations the Dutchman has to continue working with the Netherlands until the World Cup is over means he won’t be able to prepare for next season quite as early as the Red Devils would have liked, yet at the same time, his position with the national team could prove to be an advantage for United, as he may already have some players in mind that he would like to bring to England thanks to first hand observations as Oranje manager.
talkSPORT takes a look at some of Van Gaal’s Dutch favourites – players he has handed a starting place to regularly over the last year – who could fill some key roles at Old Trafford…
Name: Kevin Strootman
Age: 24
Position: Central midfielder
Current Club: Roma
Kevin Strootman started more games for the Netherlands in 2013 than any other Dutch player, making eight appearances across friendlies and World Cup qualifiers, and the Roma midfielder’s reputation continues to grow this year thanks to his club side's excellent run in Serie A.
Exactly the kind of quality central midfielder United lack, the Dutchman has been linked with Old Trafford before, and it will be no surprise if those stories return now that Van Gaal is on his way to Old Trafford.
A cruciate ligament injury picked up in March could complicate a transfer this summer depending on how quickly he recovers, while it also remains to be seen if he would be willing to drop the guarantee of Champions League football he has in Rome for a move to the Premier League.
Name: Daley Blind
Age: 24
Position: Holding midfielder
Current Club: Ajax
Previously a left-sided defender for Ajax, Frank de Boer has converted Daley Blind into a holding midfielder, and the young Dutchman has been a revelation in his new role.
Louis van Gaal has gone on to use him there for the Netherlands, and with Manchester United’s lack of a similar player in the deep midfield position a constant weak point for the Red Devils in recent years, their new manager may well decide Blind is the best man for the job.
His ability to play at left back would also help reduce the impact of the likely loss of Patrice Evra this summer. In addition, Blind's dad, Danny, was captain of the Van Gaal-managed Ajax side that won the Champions League back in 1995.
Name: Daryl Janmaat
Age: 24
Position: Right back
Current Club: Feyenoord
A talented attacking right back who was handed his Netherlands debut by Van Gaal, Daryl Janmaat has been a regular for the veteran coach over the course of the last year, and is competing with the more experienced Gregory van der Wiel for a starting spot at the World Cup.
Linked with the likes of Liverpool and Everton in recent months, there is a feeling that Janmaat could leave Feyenoord this summer, so Van Gaal may yet consider him as an option for another position Man United lack quality in.
Name: Bruno Martins Indi
Age: 22
Position: Left back
Yet another Dutch international who made his debut under Van Gaal, Bruno Martins Indi is helping to solve a problem area for the Netherlands at left back, and could yet go on to do the same for Man United.
Quick on the ground, decent in the air and still young with plenty of time to improve, the defender has been linked with Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Spurs in the past. The Dutchman seems to have a strong relationship with Van Gaal, if this video is anything to go by.
Name: Stefan de Vrij
Age: 22
Position: Centre back
Current Club: Feyenoord
Another of Van Gaal's debutantes who also happens to play in a position United lack strength in, despite still being only 22-years-old, Stefan de Vrij has five years’ worth of experience with Feyenoord.
There are some doubts over whether Van Gaal will take the young defender to the World Cup, but if he does, and if he performs well, he may yet find that he is in the manager’s thoughts beyond this summer.
SOURCE:TalkSport