Report: Koeman wants Strootman for Everton midfield
Ronald Koeman's Everton wishlist is getting rather lengthy.
Reports have suggested that the new Toffees' boss is considering a significant transfer outlay on Axel Witsel and Tim Krul, and now Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo understands Kevin Strootman is also being sighted by Koeman.
AS Roma's tough-tackling midfielder would appear to be an alternative if a transfer for Witsel isn't brokered. Strootman fulfills a similar role to the Belgian in the midfield, and would demand a nearby fee of around £30 million.
Strootman will be familiar to Koeman from when the 26-year-old represented PSV Eindhoven during the manager's tenure with Eredivisie rival Feyenoord, but he will also be aware of the player's knee struggles that have required three separate operations.
Koeman was tempted to leave Southampton for Everton due to the ambitious plans under new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. A transfer kitty of approximately £100 million is believed to be available, with funds also intended to secure some of the club's most valuable assets, like Romelu Lukaku.
Related - Report: Everton to offer Lukaku new deal
The 2016-17 Premier League fixture lists were released on Wednesday, with Koeman beginning his Everton reign in a visit from Tottenham Hotspur.