SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has refused to rule out attempting to sign Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos in the current transfer window and also suggested that a "surprise" striker was in the process of making his move to Old Trafford.
Speaking ahead of United's friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday, the Dutch manager was coy about his long-reported pursuit of the Madrid star.
"I cannot talk about these rumours," Van Gaal said. "I have said already in a lot of press conferences, it's a process and maybe Mr. Ramos is in the process, you never know."
When quizzed about the "surprise signing" he mentioned to the press on Friday, Van Gaal confirmed that Man United were in pursuit of a player. In recent days, Thomas Muller and Pedro have been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, but the manager suggested the player in mind has not been the subject of speculation.
"He's in the process. It's not the striker that the media has written about but you have to wait and see. The transfer period is open until the 31st of August or the first of September so we have to wait."
The United manager also played down suggestions United have closed the gap on champions Chelsea, saying that three of his four new squad members with no previous experience of playing in England -- Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian and Bastian Schweinsteiger -- would need time to get used to life in the Premier League.
"You have to wait and see always how new players can contribute," Van Gaal said. "I have said that before also when [Radamel] Falcao was coming or [Angel] Di Maria was coming or Daley Blind or Marcos Rojo.
"The Premier League is a different league. It's the highest pressure on the ball and the rhythm of the game is very different with other leagues. Therefore, you have to wait and see."
Van Gaal, however, did admit that his side were better placed at this stage of the season than 12 months ago.
"Now we have already four new players and we are training already in the tour with the four new players so that's a big difference," he said. "But the biggest difference is the balance in the team.
"Last year, in the USA tour, I had to line up players in different positions than what they are used to playing so that's not good. Now I have for every position two players so normally they play in their own position."
Van Gaal confirmed that David De Gea and Antonio Valencia will miss the Earthquakes game through injury and said that he was focused on improvement from United's first preseason match -- a 1-0 win over Mexican side Club America in Seattle. Fitness would also be an issue, he added.
"I think that we have a higher level than San Jose but they are fit. They have played already many, many matches. We are not fit," said Van Gaal.
"We are not able to play more than 60 minutes for example, the players. That's one, and secondly, the difference with San Jose and Club America is 20 centimetres. Every [Earthquakes] player is 20 centimetres taller so also the corner kicks and free kicks are much dangerous from San Jose than from Club America.
"There's a lot of differences and also the playing style is different. Club America played 4-4-1-1 and I think San Jose will play 4-1-4-1 so more defensive. Then we have to see how we solve that problem because that's also good that you play against different systems."