Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Kevin Strootman, Nathaniel Clyne Rumours

Manchester United have thus far been slow to get their January recruitment drive off the mark but manager Louis van Gaal retains hope of luring Kevin Strootman and Nathaniel Clyne to Old Trafford this month.

Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail has reported that a chunk of the Red Devils' recently announced £423.8 million revenue could go toward a move for Strootman as Roma continue to keep a close guard of their midfield general.

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The club also have a £750 million kit deal with Adidas to boost their income, which will undoubtedly put the Red Devils in a prime position to attack the transfer market once again in 2015.

Squawka's Greg Johnson believes Van Gaal may already have a midfield star in Ander Herrera, but Van Gaal has utilised the Spaniard in rotation since his arrival last summer:

It's long been supposed that an elite anchoring presence in United's core is one of the few remaining pieces to their puzzle, with many hoping 2014 arrival Daley Blind would be the solution to those woes.

However, Strootman has remained a top target for the club, particularly with Darren Fletcher looking likely to leave Old Trafford, as has recently been discussed by Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

Van Gaal recently made Michael Carrick the club's vice-captain, but with the English veteran turning 34 later this year, his spot in the team also has a timer placed upon it.

Strootman is still going about regaining full fitness after suffering a serious knee injury last year, but having worked with the 24-year-old during his time as Netherlands manager, Van Gaal knows the player's ability as well as any other.

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Meanwhile, speculation linking Southampton's Clyne with Manchester United continue to grow and ESPN FC cited the Daily Star in reporting that a £20 million January swoop is still on the cards.

Simon Peach of the Press Association quoted Saints boss Ronald Koeman as saying he wishes to know what his full-back's intentions are regarding a contract extension:

As things stand, Clyne's deal at St. Mary's is set to expire next year, leaving Southampton in a dilemma regarding whether to sell the player now or risk losing him for a reduced fee.

Koeman had to contend with a flurry of club exits last summer only to build a better team this season, so the Dutchman may again be capable of filling the void left by the England international's departure.

However, doing so in the winter window would be a bigger task for the club, who would undoubtedly prefer to lose their player in the summer if they had a choice in the matter.

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Rafael and Antonio Valencia have thus far rotated in the right wing-back slot, but Clyne would be considered by many as an upgrade in that position with big potential.

The 23-year-old isn't the only full-back being hounded by the Red Devils, though, as Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC looks at Everton's Seamus Coleman as a possible back-up option to Clyne:

United already signed one Southampton defender in the past year following Luke Shaw's £30 million switch last summer, but the transfer was in place prior to Van Gaal's arrival.

With two goals and 12 chances created this Premier League season, per Squawka, Clyne would be a move of Van Gaal's design, but it remains to be seen whether or not Southampton would be willing to sell this month.