Buying a striker not a priority for Man United: Van Gaal

After wearing nine in pre-season, Depay changed his squad number to seven for the new campaign following the departure of Angel di Maria.

The 24-year-old was not in the right frame of mind according to Van Gaal to be deployed against Spurs, with the Dutch coach saying at the time that a goalkeeper had to be fully turned on for a game of that magnitude. Comparing his line-up against Spurs to the XI he picked against Swansea offers the clearest evidence of how much United have evolved under him in the last 12 months. But the Bundesliga is different to the Premier League; here it is a higher rhythm and more pressure on the ball. “Maybe you know? I don’t know that either”. “I’m very frustrated and disappointed because until this moment (of the goal) we had played much better and dominated the game”.

Depay’s haul of 22 league goals for PSV convinced United to spend £25million on the Dutchman this summer.

The 21-year-old is also aware of the long list of players in United’s history who have displayed similar traits like Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo and George Best. “What I did last year, I want to do for Manchester United”, the 25 million pound signing added.

“I have to play with discipline in midfield. He doesn’t lose the ball”.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said that buying a forward is not a priority for the English football club this season.

The transfer saga has led to a lot of rumours regarding United’s next signing, with Louis van Gaal confirming that they need to replace the Spaniard if he has to leave this summer.

“No, that is not a special item for me – it is more in the media they are discussing about a striker”, Van Gaal told reporters.

It is understood that United are still hopeful of keeping De Gea at United beyond September 1 even though the player was left out of the match day squad and may not feature for the club until after the transfer window closes.

Realistically, it is doubtful that Smalling and Blind are Van Gaal’s preferred pairing for the future any more than Blackett, Smalling and Jones were as a trio.

“We go for the best players and it has to be possible”.

Unfortunately for the Tottenham Hotspur defender, his 22nd minute effort was into his own goal. The Preston lad, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Deepdale as Preston North End won promotion back to the Championship, is determined and down to earth.

“I said it before but they [the media] are not writing it. I have said it before, we have Rooney”.