sources at United suggest that Louis van Gaal is a huge fan of youngster Adnan Januzaj and does not want to cramp his development by bringing in Di Maria, who would cost a club record fee in excess of £40million, especially with Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata filling the other attacking positions.
United’s priority, despite the arrival of Rojo, is still to further strengthen their defence and midfield, although another Real player Sami Khedira also does not appear to be on their immediate radar with only 10 days left before the transfer window closes.
United followers will be scratching their heads at Van Gaal’s apparent reluctance to buy some of the stars who have been available this summer. He rejected the idea of pursuing two of David Moyes’ targets, Toni Kroos and Cesc Fabregas, because they did not fit his formation template.
And United have consistently denied they have ever been interested in Juventus and Chila midfielder Arturo Vidal.
Inevitably, it will prompt accusations that United’s owners, the Glazer family, are not prepared to invest big money. But that doesn’t stack up when figures show that only Real Madrd have outspent United in the last five transfer windows.
That would appear to leave United favourites but they have made no contact with Real despite Van Gaal hinting earlier in the summer that he was an admirer.
He said at the time: “At this moment, we have five No9s and four No10s – and we don’t have wingers to give us attacking width. Or, I should say, we don’t have wingers of the highest level, like Ronaldo or Di Maria or somebody like that.
Written by Steve Milne
