Football
ESPN staff 10y

Van Gaal sees appeal of Dutch signings

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is open to signing Dutch players but insisted he will not be rushed into transfer activity ahead of the new Premier League season.

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Former Netherlands boss Van Gaal claims he does not want to buy for the sake of buying and, despite overseeing a successful preseason tour of America, is still undecided on his current crop of players.

"I have to see for myself what these players are capable of before I can make any judgement -- two weeks is too short to say," Van Gaal said.

"I know more now than I did when I first came to the club, but we could not train properly on tour. I cannot judge that because the squad I have inherited has not yet learned how to perform my philosophy."

United have spent around 60 million pounds so far this summer, on defender Luke Shaw and midfielder Ander Herrera. Both deals were constructed while David Moyes was still in charge, although Van Gaal was happy for the transfers to go through.

The 63-year-old has since been linked with a move for several players, including Netherlands World Cup defender Daley Blind, who impressed under Van Gaal in Brazil.

Blind insisted it would be hard to turn United down should they come knocking and Van Gaal confirmed his desire to sign Dutch players -- but only if he believes they are good enough.

"If they are at the level I want them to be, then I will sign Dutch players," Van Gaal told reporters. "Dutch players are usually cheaper than players of other nationalities and they have usually been very well educated in the Netherlands, I believe.

"They have to be of a level that can play well in the English Premier League. You have to ask if that is the case with every player."

Van Gaal said he would inform the squad members he does not think will make the grade at United imminently, with the futures of Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Shinji Kagawa and Wilfried Zaha still uncertain.

While his priority remains signing defenders to replace the departed Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, Van Gaal hinted he could delve into the market for a new winger.

"At this moment, we have five No. 9's and four No.10's -- and we don't have wingers to give us attacking width," the United boss said. "Or, I should say, we don't have wingers of the highest level, like [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Angel] Di Maria or somebody like that.

"So, I have to play in another way -- and you have seen that already. I only buy when I think we need to buy in the position that is necessary."

It is reported that United's interest in Di Maria may now be rekindled after the Real Madrid winger's proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain broke down.

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