Manchester United Transfer News: Roma Demand Indecent Offer for Kevin Strootman

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has confirmed only an "indecent offer" will see Kevin Strootman leave the club. 

The Italian side are currently counting the cost of exiting the Champions League, but Sabatini is optimistic Roma can turn this "regret" into "positive energy." Despite missing out on huge financial rewards, he suggests there is no desperate need to cash-in on Strootman, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Italia:

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I believe the participation in Europa League would be a good first step for Roma in the European cups just like it was for Atletico (Madrid) awhile back. It’s also a big loss from the financial stand point, but we’ll come up with something to find the money necessary to make another eventual purchase. Strootman? Unless we get presented with an indecent offer, he’ll stay with us. President (James) Pallotta also said so: we can’t give him up.

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Roma general manager Mauro Baldissoni also recently indicated Strootman is unlikely to move, per Bryan Swanson of Sky Sports News:

The subject of an "indecent" offer isn't new for Manchester United, who continue to be linked to the player. Roma boss Rudi Garcia previously suggested a "three-digit" fee is needed to convince the club to sell, per The Telegraph.

There's no doubt such a sum would be ridiculous. At €100 million, Strootman would cost United approximately £79 million, making him the third most expensive player in history behind Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Despite the midfielder's quality, even half of this cost would be considered too pricey for many.

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Strootman's injury spell certainly doesn't help. He has recently returned from eight months on the sidelines with a knee problem, and he is quite understandably struggling to establish a decent run of form.

He completed just 76.2 percent of his passes and made one tackle during his start against Sassuolo on Dec. 6, per WhoScored.com. Last season, he averaged a pass success rate of 88.4 percent and produced 3.3 tackles each match.

Although it's perhaps unfair to compare a snippet performance against an entire campaign, the signs suggest Strootman is currently below the usual pace.

It makes sense for Louis van Gaal to monitor the player's progress across the rest of the season. He knows exactly what Strootman is about, having built his Netherlands team around the controlling midfielder, but he will need to see quality form before placing a bid.

Strootman's best attributes are highlighted below:

Roma representatives are likely to keep talking as we head toward the January transfer window. For all the chest-puffing going on, the club will have a serious decision to make if any acceptable bid is floated their way. Strootman's quality in the coming weeks could play a major role in what fee is deduced.

United desperately need added midfield presence. Van Gaal's team have lacked composure for much of the season, summed up during the disappointing display against Southampton. Someone who can dictate the flow of the match and offer a defensive shield could significantly improve United's chances of making the Champions League, a vital achievement this year.