Man United keen on Cristiano Ronaldo transfer next summer and Kevin Strootman swoop in January

Van Gaal confirming interest in Old Trafford old boy tallies with club insiders' belief a deal is possible PLUS: Roma value midfielder at £46m to try to scare Reds off

Louis van Gaal has admitted Manchester United want to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Premier League. United spent £151.3million this summer, and are ready to make another major statement of intent with a megabucks move to re-sign Ronaldo from Real Madrid at the end of this campaign. And the Old Trafford giants are also ready to open the chequebook again in January for Roma star Kevin Strootman - new boss Van Gaal’s top midfield target - despite having been told they will have to fork out £46m to land him. Van Gaal, questioned on Friday over a potential move for Ronaldo, said: “When it is possible, as I said with [£6m single-season loan signing Radamel] Falcao, players like Ronaldo give a lot extra to the team.” Ronaldo left United for the Spanish capital in 2009 for a then-world record fee of £80m, but is said to have become fed up with life at the Bernabeu. The Red Devils have been alerted to the Portuguese superstar’s perceived discontent by former Real president Ramon Calderon, who claimed the 29-year-old was ready to move again.