Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has made the signing of a top creative midfielder a number one priority as he starts to line up summer transfer targets.
The 63-year-old van Gaal spent £150 million on new players since arriving at Old Trafford last summer, and is still not satisfied with the team he has got.
Despite bringing in Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera and Daley Blind, van Gaal feels the side is missing a playmaker who can supply balls to his strikers which has led him to use Wayne Rooney in this role rather than playing him up front where he is much more comfortable.
When the Dutchman was asked if he was playing Rooney out of position because he had no one else who could take over as a playmaker van Gaal said: “Of course that’s the case. I’m looking for balance and I need it in midfield.
“The last games I played with Adnan Januzaj and Angel di Maria in the midfield positions. Then you need a certain balance for those kind of creative players.
“So when you have these creative players and you think that (Radamel) Falcao and Robin van Persie are also creative, then you have four creative players. Then you have to look for balance in your team.”
When it was suggested that a midfield playmaker should perhaps be his summer priority the Dutchman said: “Yes, of course.”
AS Roma player Kevin Strootman was until a reoccurrence of his knee injury the top target, but it looks as though van Gaal has moved away from his former Holland player and perhaps looking towards Paul Pogba who has been sensational for Juventus.
For now though it looks as though Rooney will play the season out in midfield with van Gaal adding the 29-year-old is happy in that role.
“He’s happy. Otherwise he should come to me and say he’s not happy and he never does,” said Van Gaal, who takes his team to Preston in the FA Cup on Monday.
“He’s always friendly to me. He wants to perform what I want so that’s what I see.”
Van Gaal however did hint that his captain would like to return up front though.
“Of course when the whole world is writing he has to be in the striker’s position, he will be thinking ‘maybe, hey’. He’s human,” the Dutchman added.
