Louis van Gaal has confirmed Manchester United are in the process of recruiting a new striker.
Senior sources at the team were insistent last week that United were not after a new frontman, but after their 1-0 win over Club America at the weekend Van Gaal hinted a “surprise” signing might be in store.
On the eve of United’s second tour match in California against the San Jose Earthquakes, the United coach again dropped a cryptic clue, which suggested a forward could be coming to Old Trafford.
“He is in the process,” Van Gaal said bluntly when asked about his “surprise” signing.
When asked whether United were close to signing the striker in question, Van Gaal said: “No. It is not a striker that the media has written, but you have to wait and see.
“The transfer period is open until September 1. You have to wait.”
United have been linked with several forwards in the past few weeks, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani, Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
A German newspaper claimed United had bid £70 million (Dh400.1m) for Lewandowski’s teammate Thomas Muller on Monday, but sources at Old Trafford denied an offer had been tabled.
When asked whether United were any closer to signing Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, who they want to bring in as part of a swap deal for goalkeeper David de Gea, Van Gaal said: “I cannot talk about these rumours. I have said already in a lot of press conferences, it is a process. Maybe Mr Ramos is in the process. You never know.”
De Gea, absent for the match in Seattle, will miss the second match of the tour, along with Antonio Valencia.
“They have minor injuries,” Van Gaal said. “They have visited the hospital this morning. That is confirmed. They cannot play against San Jose I don’t think, but we shall wait and see.”
It is understood that De Gea should be fit for United’s second game in California against Barcelona on Saturday.
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