New Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal has been given a £150 million transfer budget this summer to overhaul the Old Trafford club and restore their credentials as title contenders.
The Red Devils dropped from champions in 2012-13 under Sir Alex Ferguson to seventh place under David Moyes, and their new Dutch coach has been told to prove that this past campaign was a mere blip.
“It was always a wish for me to work in the Premier League,” Van Gaal is quoted as saying in the Guardian.
“To work as a manager for Manchester United, the biggest club in the world, makes me very proud. I have managed in games at Old Trafford before and know what an incredible arena Old Trafford is and how passionate and knowledgeable the fans are.
“This club has big ambitions; I too have big ambitions. Together I’m sure we will make history.”
Van Gaal may have £150m to spend on transfers this summer, but revealed to Dutch television station RTL – on a talk show with dog whisperer Cesar Millan (we kid you not) – that it was his record bringing through youngsters that helped earn him the Man Utd job.
Mirror journalist Elko Born was watching the show live in the Netherlands.
Van Gaal: “The aim is to bring them back to the NR. 1 position as soon as possible, because that’s where they were under Sir Alex Ferguson.”
— Elko Born (@Elko_B) May 19, 2014
V. Gaal:‘We don’t talk about money. We talk about the players I want. We’ll have to see if we can get them. We also talked about who can go’
— Elko Born (@Elko_B) May 19, 2014
Van Gaal: ‘United is the biggest club in the world. Marketing-wise, but also if you look at their budget. They have to finish high.’
— Elko Born (@Elko_B) May 19, 2014
Louis van Gaal: 'It was retirement, or going to England. My wife Truus wanted me to retire. But now we're going to England.'
— Elko Born (@Elko_B) May 19, 2014
Man Utd have been linked with a number of top class players, but despite a shortlist of top priority acquisitions, and B and C backup options in each position, the Red Devils’ academy remains a source of encouragement – particularly with James Wilson and Tom Lawrence having made recent successful Premier League debuts.
Those youngsters and others will be hopeful that the expected summer spending spree doesn’t harm their chances of success at Old Trafford under Louis Van Gaal.
