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The Nairobian

Manchester United plot transfer of at least one Gaalactico after Van Gaal admits they won't win Champions League

Sports

By Mirror | Dec 06, 2015

Manchester United were booed off at Old Trafford on Saturday after their sixth goalless draw of the season.

The Old Trafford faithful were less then impressed after their latest blank against West Ham.

But Sunday Mirror Sport understands the focus will be on bringing at least one of the world’s stellar players to Old Trafford after Louis van Gaal admitted his current team aren’t good enough to win the Champions League.

Van Gaal and his employers are in agreement that the Reds have lost their X-factor in recent years and have drawn up a wish-list that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Neymar, with a high-level source admitting: “A club like Manchester United must have a player who will be in the top 10 on the list to win the Ballon d’Or.”

Although he has spent in excess of £250million since summer 2014 making United title contenders once again, Van Gaal has warned he must be allowed to splash the cash again if the club’s American owners want a team capable of being champions of Europe.

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United will perhaps have to double their current level of player investment to £500m to deliver the kind of big names who will pacify supporters.

“We shall try to win, of course. When you are there, you try to do everything. But you also have to be realistic.”

Van Gaal is aware of the implications of returning from Germany with nothing more than the consolation prize of a place in the Europa League.

Failure to progress from the group stage this week will cost United at least £10m.

And after taking a £35m hit when they finished outside the Premier League’s top four in 2014 under his predecessor David Moyes, the financial impact isn’t lost on Van Gaal.

He said: “I know what the consequences could be, but you cannot think too much about the financial part. I have to focus on the football aspect, like the players have to. But the consequence? Yes, I know that for sure.

“We can win in Wolfsburg, because we won the home game, but it will be hard.