Chelsea handed major boost as Man Utd RULE OUT Paul Pogba move

Strootman has been linked with a move to United in the past few months, although another injury has curtailed his progress at Roma.

Pogba has also been continually talked up with a sensational return to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester City keeping a watchful eye on his development at Juventus.

But The Manchester Evening News suggests Strootman is now Louis van Gaal's first choice option.

It is thought United have no plans to make a move for Pogba, which could trigger a bidding war with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also in the hunt for his signature.

Van Gaal has made no secret of his desire to sign a world class midfielder, and is expected to be given a transfer kitty of £100million to realise his ambition.

Strootman however will have to prove his fitness should he wish to secure a move to Old Trafford.