LOUIS VAN GAAL left for his holiday villa in Portugal earlier this week by signalling it will be another busy summer in the transfer market at Old Trafford.
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After splashing over £150million last year, Van Gaal has challenged Manchester United's board to deliver a squad capable of winning the Premier League and re-establishing the club as a Champions League force.
He feels he has done his bit by returning them to the top four and has drawn up a list of targets to ensure United have two top players in competing for every position.
He feels he has done his bit by returning them to the top four and has drawn up a list of targets to ensure United have two top players in competing for every position.
Now, he says, it is down to the club's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to get the deals done.
Goalkeeper
Everything depends on Real Madrid target David De Gea. United are growing increasingly frustrated that the Spain No 1 has still not accepted their offer a new £200,000-a-week long-term contract and are waiting for Real to make a formal offer for a player, who has a year left on his current deal and is valued at £30m.
If Real, as expected, make a move and De Gea indicates he wants to return home after four years in England then United will need a No 1 keeper and with Tottenham refusing to consider the sale of Hugo Lloris, Ajax's Jasper Cillesen and Stoke's Asmir Begovic will be the main targets. Cillesen is valued at £25m whereas they could pick up Begovic, who has only a year left on his contract, for around £8m.
Everything depends on Real Madrid target David De Gea. United are growing increasingly frustrated that the Spain No 1 has still not accepted their offer a new £200,000-a-week long-term contract and are waiting for Real to make a formal offer for a player, who has a year left on his current deal and is valued at £30m.
If Real, as expected, make a move and De Gea indicates he wants to return home after four years in England then United will need a No 1 keeper and with Tottenham refusing to consider the sale of Hugo Lloris, Ajax's Jasper Cillesen and Stoke's Asmir Begovic will be the main targets. Cillesen is valued at £25m whereas they could pick up Begovic, who has only a year left on his contract, for around £8m.
Right-back
Van Gaal clearly doesn't rate Rafael Da Silva and preferred to use winger Antonio Valencia at right-back virtually all season. While the Ecuador international did a reasonable job he is not the long term answer.
Southampton's £20m-rated Nathaniel Clyne has long been regarded as a shoe-in but there are suggestions United's interest has cooled. Dani Alves, out of contract at Barcelona, is an option but his age, 32, indicates he would not be a long-term answer.
Van Gaal clearly doesn't rate Rafael Da Silva and preferred to use winger Antonio Valencia at right-back virtually all season. While the Ecuador international did a reasonable job he is not the long term answer.
Southampton's £20m-rated Nathaniel Clyne has long been regarded as a shoe-in but there are suggestions United's interest has cooled. Dani Alves, out of contract at Barcelona, is an option but his age, 32, indicates he would not be a long-term answer.
Centre-half
Van Gaal has made no secret from the moment he took the United job that Mats Hummels is his favoured choice and the German World Cup winner will make an announcement about his future following Borussia Dortmund's German Cup final against Wolfsburg on Saturday. But with two years left on his contract United will have to pay around £30m.
Schalke's Benedikt Howedes is a back-up option but a move for Valencia's Nicholas Otamendi has been ruled out.
Van Gaal has made no secret from the moment he took the United job that Mats Hummels is his favoured choice and the German World Cup winner will make an announcement about his future following Borussia Dortmund's German Cup final against Wolfsburg on Saturday. But with two years left on his contract United will have to pay around £30m.
Schalke's Benedikt Howedes is a back-up option but a move for Valencia's Nicholas Otamendi has been ruled out.
Midfield
United need cover for anchorman Michael Carrick, who turns 34 in July and who had two lengthy spells out injured last season. Van Gaal's long-held interest in Kevin Strootman has been shelved until the Roma player can prove he has finally overcome his knee injury.
They have confirmed their interest in Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger but are more likely to move for Ilkay Gundogan, who has announced he is leaving with only a year left on his deal at Borussia Dortmund.
United need cover for anchorman Michael Carrick, who turns 34 in July and who had two lengthy spells out injured last season. Van Gaal's long-held interest in Kevin Strootman has been shelved until the Roma player can prove he has finally overcome his knee injury.
They have confirmed their interest in Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger but are more likely to move for Ilkay Gundogan, who has announced he is leaving with only a year left on his deal at Borussia Dortmund.
United sources have indicated they will not be in the running for Paul Pogba because they do not want to get involved in a bidding war with neighbours City for a player who walked out on them when he was a teenager.
As for the attacking midfield positions, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini all had good seasons and weighed in with a decent share of goals last season. United have also tied down highly-rated youngster Andreas Pereira to a long-term contract.
The impressive season of Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne in the Bundesliga has caught United's eye although they face competition from City.
As for the attacking midfield positions, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini all had good seasons and weighed in with a decent share of goals last season. United have also tied down highly-rated youngster Andreas Pereira to a long-term contract.
The impressive season of Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne in the Bundesliga has caught United's eye although they face competition from City.
Strikers
United scored only 62 goals – their second-lowest tally in the Premier League era – and their top scorer was Wayne Rooney with just 12 so it is clear they need extra firepower.
The signing of Dutch wonderkid Memphis Depay, signed from PSV Eindhoven for £25m, should help but he is still young and will need time to settle in the Premier League.
United scored only 62 goals – their second-lowest tally in the Premier League era – and their top scorer was Wayne Rooney with just 12 so it is clear they need extra firepower.
The signing of Dutch wonderkid Memphis Depay, signed from PSV Eindhoven for £25m, should help but he is still young and will need time to settle in the Premier League.
United would be the first in the queue to sign Gareth Bale but are resigned to him staying at Real for at least another season.
And they don't believe Real will want to part with Karim Benzema anymore than Tottenham would consider selling Harry Kane. A move for Raheem Sterling has been ruled out because historically the two clubs simply don't trade players.
So they are considering a move for Edinson Cavani, who is unsettled at Paris Saint-Germian where has been played out of position and is second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
And they don't believe Real will want to part with Karim Benzema anymore than Tottenham would consider selling Harry Kane. A move for Raheem Sterling has been ruled out because historically the two clubs simply don't trade players.
So they are considering a move for Edinson Cavani, who is unsettled at Paris Saint-Germian where has been played out of position and is second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Departures
Radamel Falcao has already gone and others will follow but Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj are NOT expected to be among them, despite their struggles last season.
Everton-target Tom Cleverley will leave as a free agent at the end of his contract and United will look for permanent buyers for Javier Hernandez and Nani, both back from season-long loan spells wth Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon respectively.
Van Gaal is also understood to have told No 3 goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, Rafael Da Silva and Jonny Evans they will be surplus to requirements next season.
Radamel Falcao has already gone and others will follow but Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj are NOT expected to be among them, despite their struggles last season.
Everton-target Tom Cleverley will leave as a free agent at the end of his contract and United will look for permanent buyers for Javier Hernandez and Nani, both back from season-long loan spells wth Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon respectively.
Van Gaal is also understood to have told No 3 goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, Rafael Da Silva and Jonny Evans they will be surplus to requirements next season.
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