Van Gaal Discusses Search For New Striker

Louis van Gaal has hinted Manchester United is pursuing a striker in the summer transfer window, although the boss has claimed it is "not the striker the media has written about".

Speaking after the Club America win last Friday, the Dutchman discussed his options up front and explained he is happy to have Wayne Rooney, James Wilson and Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez in his squad. However, he also said “maybe there comes a surprise, you never know".

During his pre-match press conference for Tuesday’s ICC match against San Jose Earthquakes, van Gaal was quizzed on his comments about a surprise signing and asked if the club has made any further progress with it in the transfer market.

“He is in the process,” said the boss. “It's not the striker the media has written about. You have to wait and see. The transfer period is open until the 1 September so we have to wait.”

The manager was also asked about the possibility of the club signing Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid. "I cannot talk about these rumours. I have said in a lot of press conferences that it's a process. Maybe Mr Ramos is in the process - you never know."

Earlier in the press conference, van Gaal confirmed David De Gea and Antonio Valencia will both miss United's match against San Jose Earthquakes through injury.


QUICK TRANSFERS Q&A...

Do United have a list of targets?
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward explains: "Louis sets his targets – it’s important to have more than one target for each position, because you have to accept sometimes you may not get your first choice, so we plan ahead and look at two and three. Then I go and negotiate the deals with the club and the player."

How does the whole process work?
Woodward has already had a busy summer in the transfer market, which is the culmination of months of hard work identifying and scouting players and then negotiating deals. "I'm completely aligned with the fans," Ed told us. "When we tell them we’ve signed a player, there is a moment of happiness, then it’s: who’s next?"

So, who will United sign next?
The boss is keeping his cards close to his chest but van Gaal told us he could still fill two positions in his squad before the end of the transfer window on 1 September. He said: "I think we still need to improve at least two positions and we shall do that when it is possible." One of them could, of course, be a striker.