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The Nairobian

Van Gaal reveals he will STAY with pre-season and transfers planning

Football

By Mirror | Apr 03, 2016

***United are committed to Van Gaal seeing out his contract***

Boss many Reds fans want sacked has succeeded in slashing the length of summer trip to China and is very involved in the work to identify targets

Louis van Gaal is already laying down plans for Manchester United's 2016-17 season.

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that United remain committed to Van Gaal spending the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, despite another inconsistent campaign.

And the Dutchman is working closely with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and chief scout Jim Lawlor to identify transfer targets for the summer.

Those potential recruits include strikers such Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund, plus Benfica teenage midfield sensation Renato Sanches.

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It has strengthened Van Gaal’s belief that he will stay for the final year of his contract — especially as the Dutchman has also been able to convince the club executives to limit United’s pre-season tour to just eight days when they had wanted to tour the Far East for two full money-spinning weeks.

“I am there for every step that is being made for next season and I decided that we would only go to China for eight days,” said the 64-year-old.

“I have been there before and I have also played myself in a tournament in Shanghai and we couldn’t train properly because of the air and the humidity.

“We are going only because of commercial purposes.

"As manager of Manchester United, I know that we have to do that.

“But I have also made it that we are going for no more than eight days. After that, we are back again to train.

“It is not very good preparation because of that, and it is also difficult because we have to think about the European Championship.”

Van Gaal’s chances of remaining in charge will be significantly boosted if he can guide the Reds into the top four.

They come up against a Lukaku-inspired Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday, knowing that a victory will keep pressure on neighbours Manchester City for that final Champions League spot.

And Van Gaal recognises the threat that 25-goal Lukaku will pose.

He said of the unsettled Belgium international: “He (Lukaku) is very interesting. When you score a lot of goals, you are always a potential candidate for clubs. Football is like that.

“When you look at scoring goals and making assists, he (Lukaku) does that at the highest level in the Premier League.

“But I think every club in the world is comparing strikers.”