Manchester United are set to miss out on the midfielder Kevin Strootman, as Roma have reiterated their desire to keep hold of the Dutch midfielder, as reported by the Daily Star.

Despite a significant injury suffered by the midfielder last season, Strootman has emerged as a key transfer target for the Old Trafford club during the summer months.

New Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal worked closely with Strootman during the Dutch national side’s World Cup qualifiers, and rated the midfielder to the extent that he completely rejigged his line up in Brazil after the player’s injury.

As a result, Strootman has been regularly linked with a move to Manchester since Van Gaal took charge. The midfielder had a £60 million price tag slapped on him only a few days ago, but Roma have now revealed they have no desire to see him depart.

Roma’s general director Mauro Baldissoni said: “We can’t wait to see Strootman back on the field, because we really miss him and that moment is getting closer.

“We are proud to have Strootman in our squad and he is not for sale.”

Man Utd lost 5-3 to Leicester City on Sunday.

Having had a £60 million price tag slapped on him by current club AS Roma, Manchester United target Kevin Strootman has reportedly departed his former agent in favour of finding another who can better put together a move to the Old Trafford club, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

Strootman has linked up with his national team compatriot Robin van Persie’s agent, Kes Vos, in an attempt to better broker any deal that may take place during the winter transfer window.

This has seen him part company with his agent of many years, Chiel Dekker, showing his enthusiasm to make the move to the Premier League.

However, the move will not be easy to put together for either Man Utd or the player, with Roma clearly demanding a huge sum to part with one of their star players.

The club have been buoyed by the financial input of owner James Pallotta, a hedge fund manager from the US, and have no financial requirement to sell.

Contrary to reports from yesterday, the Daily Mirror are now suggesting that AS Roma are demanding a huge £60 million fee for their midfield maestro Kevin Strootman, who has been heavily targeted by Man Utd since the arrival of Louis van Gaal.

This sum might prove prohibitive for the club to sign the talented midfielder, given the fact that he has spent a significant spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious injury last season.

The injury suffered by Strootman took him out of this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, and it shows the extent to which Van Gaal rates the player that he entirely reformulated his Netherlands line up to better deal with his absence.

It is a result of Man Utd’s huge summer spend that the player’s price has jumped from £25 million to over twice that amount. The Old Trafford club are somewhat responsible for the huge price inflation seen in the market, and Roma are now unwilling to part for a price that would have suited the player in the previous market.