Why signing Kevin Strootman would be a mistake

The Mirror last month reported that Ronald Koeman is interested in Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman as a possible future replacement for the aging Gareth Barry.

Is there merit to the rumors and would he be a good fit as Everton’s future first-choice holding midfielder?

Unsurprisingly, Koeman knows his compatriot very well from their time on the Dutch international scene. Koeman believes in the midfielder’s ability and is reportedly very interested in luring the Roma midfielder to Goodison, possibly as early as January.

Strootman’s injury history

Acquiring the 26-year-old Dutch midfielder, however, would come with great risk. Strootman has endured more than his fair share of injury woes. Most significantly, Strootman suffered two separate cruciate ligament knee injuries.

He suffered his first injury in March 2014 in a match against Napoli and didn’t return to Roma’s lineup for eight months. Less than three months later, he suffered yet another serious knee injury, this time to his anterior cruciate ligament. Strootman underwent knee surgery and didn’t play for another eight months.

But his knee didn’t recover the way specialists had hoped it would. So, he had to go under the knife once again. That was in August 2015.

Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol believes the deal will happen

Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol believes the deal to acquire Strootman is all but imminent.

“I think it is a little bit of a gamble, considering the problems with his knee he’s had over the past 18 months.

“I think this is going to happen, though. I think he will go to Everton. I’m going to say this is a hit,” Nicol said in a previous interview.

Saying it is a bit of a gamble is the understatement of the year.

Not worth the risk

Cruciate ligament knee injuries are as decapitating as they are lingering. Most players who suffer this type of severe knee injury are never the same.

Rehab, as Strootman fully knows, can take between four and eight months depending on the injury and individual. Thereafter, players have to regain match fitness and lost confidence. And the time that takes varies greatly between players. Some players never return to their maximum confidence level.

Defensive midfielders are fearless in the tackle, cover a lot of ground and, often, spearhead the attack from the back. Players returning from these type of injuries are often hesitant in the inchoate stages of their comeback. And sometimes they never return to the speed they played at prior to suffering the injury.

A most unwanted injury

Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma suffered a similar injury in February 2016. He has yet to regain a place in the Chelsea team.

There was nine cruciate ligament injuries as of February in the Premier League last season. Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings, Max Gradel, Tim Krul, Joe Gomez, Danny Ings, Carl Jenkinson, Jordan Amavi and the aforementioned Zouma were all victims of the horrific injury.
A report conducted by the Daily Mirror said it is the most unwanted injury in football. And, other than a torn achilles, I tend to agree.

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Michael Owen suffered the same injury during his career. And he was never the same player after returning. Owen relied on his speed to beat defenders but lost a vital step upon returning from the devastating injury.

Strootman, if fully fit, has all the ability in the world but a player plagued with this type of injury is just not worth the risk. Reports say that Everton would be able to sign the Dutchman for a reasonable price. That’s what you’d expect when buying damaged goods.

Everton should stay away from the Dutchman as, even at a bargained, cut-rate, procuring a player with a history of cruciate knee injuries is a never worth the risk.