Manchester United Transfer News: Louis Van Gaal Only Wants World's Best Strikers

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has insisted a new striker is not needed at Old Trafford, unless the Red Devils can secure one of the world’s very best.

United have struggled for cutting edge performances in the opening weeks of the Premier League season, scoring just two goals—an own goal and a deflected strike—in their first three matches. But Van Gaal has stated he’s content with his current options and will only move for a top-quality operator, per Richard Jolly of ESPN FC:

"

I have a lot of options. I have chosen Chicharito [Hernandez], because he is another type from Rooney, and we have also Fellaini, who is another type, then I have Wilson and Januzaj, so I don't think we need a striker.

If he is the best striker in the world then, yes, we need him, but if he cannot contribute in our eyes, then we won't buy any striker. But when he does, we shall buy.

"

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Skipper and starting centre-forward Wayne Rooney has been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism in the early weeks of the campaign, although Van Gaal has claimed he is “very satisfied” with his performances, per Jolly’s piece.

As we can see here courtesy of OptaJoe, the United captain does seems to have lost his golden touch:

But in fairness to the England international, support has been scarce from other team-mates, and top-class competition is in short supply. Javier Hernandez is a poacher, but he's too one-dimensional; Memphis Depay is talented, but he's still learning; and James Wilson is still unproven at the top level. At this juncture, it’s tough to see where the goals are going to come from for the Red Devils.

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There have been some links to stellar players which may adhere to Van Gaal’s world-class criteria. Thomas Muller’s name continues to crop up, per George Ankers of Goal, while Barcelona starlet Neymar has also been cited as an ambitious target, per Jamie Jackson of the Guardian. Neither one seems like a realistic option, though.

Van Gaal also claimed that even if a deal can be done to land a genuine superstar, there’s no guarantee that they’ll come in and thrive, per Jolly’s piece:

"

In a club like Manchester United, you never know that, because you have seen it for example with Falcao and Di Maria last season: great players, but they have to adapt to the culture of Manchester United. You have that with every buy.

"

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Nevertheless, as noted here by Rob Harris of the Press Association, it’s clear the majority of the United fanbase feel as though another No. 9 is needed before the window closes:

While Van Gaal has professed his satisfaction with the players in situ, he’ll know that a new forward will not only bolster a weak point of the squad but give everyone at Old Trafford a lift. Rooney needs support and regular competition to keep his performance levels high, and as such, it’d be a big surprise if the Red Devils didn’t court a forward in the next week.

It’s an important season for the Dutchman, and he won’t want to go beyond the transfer deadline with a disproportionate squad. Van Gaal may not be able to land a player to the impeccable standards which he cites, but for the sake of United’s season, and maybe even his own future, something must be done to redress the balance of this group.