Louis van Gaal’s gets £200m transfer budget to spend; seven possible targets identified


Now that Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Louis van Gaal as their new manager, attention now turns to just what the Dutchman is going to do to turn the club’s fortunes around.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have already been shown the door, Patrice Evra also is likely to leave and a cloud of uncertainty very much hangs over the likes Nani, Tom Cleverley and Javier Hernandez.

One thing is for sure, a major rebuilding job is need at Old Trafford, so Sportsmail takes a look at seven of the players that Van Gaal might be targeting before the start of next season.

 
Running the rule: Louis van Gaal will have his eye on several major transfer signings

 
United manager Louis van Gaal’s quirky training methods

 
Kevin Strootman – Roma 
Value: £25m
Age: 24
2013-14 Apps: 28; Goals: 6 
Verdict: Left-footed, clever but lacks pace. Knee injury means he won’t be fit until October.

 
Cesc Fabregas – Barcelona 
Value: £45m
Age: 27
2013-14 Apps: 55; Goals: 13
Verdict: Available for sale. United won’t get involved though if there is a hint of last year’s saga.

 
Toni Kroos – Bayern Munich 
Value: £18m 
Age: 24
2013-14 Apps: 51; Goals: 4
Verdict: Had agreed to join David Moyes. Van Gaal still an admirer of Munich youth product.

 
Target: Dutch international Kevin Strootman would have been going to the World Cup were it not for injury

 
 
Return? Arsenal legend Cesc Fabregas could be heading to Manchester

 
 
Touted: Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos has been eyeing a move to Old Trafford for a few months

 
Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund 
Value:£20m 
Age: 25
2013-14 Apps: 28; Goals: 2
Verdict: Lacks some finesse but is a tough defender. Dortmund will sacrifice one big name this summer

 
Holger Badstuber – Bayern Munich 
Value: £15m 
Age: 25
2013-14 Apps: 0; Goals: 0
Verdict: Regarded as best left-footed defender in Germany by van Gaal but just returned from injury.

Sebastian Jung – Eintracht Frankfurt 

Value: £7m
Age: 23
2013-14 Apps: 36; Goals: 1
Verdict: Second best right-back in Germany behind Philipp Lahm, Arsenal also like the 22-year-old.

 
Luke Shaw – Southampton 
Value: £27m
Age: 18
2013-14 Apps: 36; Goals: 0 
Verdict: Will join United once finer details of fee for the England international are ironed out.

 
Rock solid: Mats Hummels (left) could replace the departing Nemanja Vidic in the heart of the defence

 
Incoming: Southampton teenager Luke Shaw is reportedly on the verge of a £27million move to Old Trafford

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