£ 230m outlay… but Louis still wants galactico

MANCHESTER United are still not the fi nished article, according to Louis van Gaal, despite having spent an eyewatering £ 230 million in his fi rst year in charge at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal has sparked one of the biggest squad turnovers in United’s recent history by signing 10 players and off- loading about 20.

But he still wants more creative brilliance to give United the sort of attacking verve and cutting edge teams such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Chelsea possess.

United hit only 62 goals last season, the second lowest in t h e i r Premier League history, a n d Manchester United, have to compete with these clubs. So we also have to look for those kind of players.”

Cristiano Ronaldo would fi t the bill perfectly and his apparent rift with new Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has fuelled speculation of a return to Old Trafford.

The fans would love it and so would Van Gaal but he feels the fi nancial package would prove too big, even for a club with United’s resources – and that is if Real would consider selling him.

“He may come,” he said, “but it is not possible. Yes, of course, the fans would love it and so would I. But that’s not possible. Why not? Because you have his club Real Madrid, you have Ronaldo and then you have Manchester United and how much Manchester United want to spend.

“We are still looking. When it is possible to buy players from that level at a reasonable price then we shall do that because they can contribute and make us better.”

While Van Gaal continues his search for more goal power, he is looking to Rooney for more goals and challenged Depay, Javier Hernandez, Januzaj and Wilson to convince him they can be adequate back- up if the United captain is injured.

Rooney scored only 14 last season – his lowest tally since joining United 11 years ago – but says he is capable of 30 if he is played up front every week.

“Rooney says he will score at the minimum 25 goals. Last season he was our top scorer with only 12 goals in the Premier League while Robin van Persie had 10,” said Van Gaal.

“So when I have a striker who scores 25 – and Rooney is more or less saying that he will – then I’m better off.

“But it is not only Rooney who has to score more. Other players have to score and we must concede less. You have seen how well Januzaj played against Barcelona and in two weeks I will have Chicharito Hernandez fi t again. Maybe I will buy another striker.

“It depends on Januzaj, Chicharito or Wilson and Depay can also play in a striker position and that is also a process.”