After Real Madrid elected against buying Mexican striker Javier Hernandez from Manchester United, Van Gaal is now planning to use Chicharito as part of a deal to bring a new player to Old Trafford.
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According to Mexican newspaper Record, Manchester United will try to use Chicharito as part of a deal to negotiate on the asking price for either Mats Hummels from Dortmund or Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton – just as they did with Nani when bringing Marcos Rojo to Old Trafford last summer.
Despite being linked with a move to MLS side Orlando City by the Telegraph, Hernandez is keen to continue to play in Europe.
If either Southampton or Dortmund could lure him away from Old Trafford, it would be a major coup for each club and their fans. Dortmund badly need new firepower to help them recover from a disappointing season, having only scored 47 goals in 34 Bundesliga matches – just the eighth most in the division. Having secured Europa League football this term, Southampton are looking to push on and make a bid for a Champions League spot next season.
Hernandez arrived at United in 2010 and has gone on to score 37 goals in 102 games for the club. Last season he managed to grab seven goals in 23 appearances for Real Madrid despite spending most of his time on the bench – an impressive record given his limited game time. Indeed, with 0.71 goals per 90 minutes in La Liga in 2013-14, he was the eighth most prolific striker.