Report: Manchester United in talks to sign Milan midfielder de Jong
Manchester United have reportedly made the first move in a bid to sign Holland international Nigel de Jong in an £8million deal.
Having already brought Ander Herrera to the club this summer, manager Louis van Gaal made it clear to United officials that he is happy to work with what he has in the midfield area -- at least until his main target, Kevin Strootman, fully recovers from a serious knee injury.
But executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been working tirelessly behind the scenes in a bid to strengthen the Dutchman's options -- and having identified de Jong as a potential recruit, met with the AC Milan midfielder's representatives in London on Tuesday.
Those talks are understood to have gone well, with de Jong desperate to link up with van Gaal. The Dutchman could now become United's third major summer signing, following on from the arrivals of Herrera and Luke Shaw.
And van Gaal is understood to have given the move the green light, having worked well with De Jong in his former role as Netherlands coach and in particular at this summer's World Cup.
FOX Soccer and Goal.com have teamed up to bring you the best in world soccer coverage. Visit Goal.com, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
More from Goal.com:
Live transfer blog: Latest news from summer window
The summer's most expensive transfers
Transfer talk: 24/7 source for the latest rumors
