Van Gaal: I Might Not Buy A Striker

Louis van Gaal has backtracked on claims Manchester United are "in the process" of signing a striker.

The United boss faced the media after his side's 3-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes on their tour of United States and denied saying a 'surprise' signing was being lined up.

His comments came barely 24 hours after he appeared at a separate press conference and suggested United were in for a player, specifically "not the striker that the media has written about".

In the wake of the San Jose game it was put to Van Gaal that the mystery man might be either Juventus' Fernando Llorente or Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich.

He said: "I don't know if I want to buy a striker. I have read in the media the striker is the surprise. No, that's not what I said. But you are saying that. No, I mean something else."

Van Gaal has lost Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie, two of last season's senior strikers, but his latest comments raise the possibility he is looking to strengthen in another area.

The Dutchman this week refused to rule out a renewed effort to sign Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, saying: "I cannot talk about these rumours. I have said already it's a process and maybe Mr Ramos is in the process - you never know."

United's tour of the US continues with a game against Barcelona on Saturday before concluding against Paris Saint-Germain in Chicago on July 30.

Credit: Skysports.com