Manchester United lines up a £25m bid for Ajax and Holland keeper Jasper Cillessen

Louis van Gaal is ready to go Dutch in his pursuit of Manchester United’s successor to David De Gea.

United have lined up a £25million bid for Ajax and Holland keeper Jasper Cillessen - if they fail to prevent Spaniard De Gea joining Real Madrid.

Cillessen started every match for Van Gaal at last summer's World Cup in Brazil as they finished in third place.

And Van Gaal has turned his attention to the 26-year-old on the advice of the Old Trafford giants' goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek - one of his most trusted lieutenants.

Hoek has a long history of operating alongside Van Gaal, and the pair worked with Cillessen in the Dutch national team set-up.

Now, Cillessen could become the Reds' second Dutch signing of the summer, following the £25m capture of PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay.

But United will have to work hard if they want to prise Cillessen away from Ajax, whose coach Frank de Boer has no desire to sell a man who has just been voted the top goalie in Dutch football, as well as Ajax’s player of the year.

Despite De Boer’s reluctance, Ajax have become known as a selling club and would be willing to part with Cillessen if the price is right.

Van Gaal admitted last week he has drawn up a short-list of replacements for De Gea, with United increasingly resigned to losing him to the Bernabeu.

As well as Cillessen, Van Gaal’s list of targets to replace De Gea includes Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris and Asmir Begovic of Stoke.

Credit: David McDonnell/Mirror