da pinnacle： Manchester United have taken a huge step to ensuring they make a return to the Champions League after some crucial victories in recent weeks.
da jogodeouro： Wins over Liverpool and Spurs mean they now have an eight-point buffer with just seven games to go, that given their current form should be enough to see them over the line.
The return to European competition will prove important in the manager’s recruitment process this summer as he looks to strengthen his squad once again with some of Europe’s most talented players.
And with plenty of players set to depart Old Trafford at the end of the season you can be sure there will a few more arriving at the club as Louis van Gaal looks to build on a positive first season in charge.
Here are just five of the possible signings he could be looking to make, with reports linking all of them with a move to the Red Devils…
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Mats Hummels
The United defence is an area that Louis van Gaal will certainly be looking to strengthen this summer with a top centre-back surely a priority. And if reports are to be believed Dortmund defender Mats Hummels could be the man to help them do so.
Despite the German outfit trying to tie him down to a new contract, the World Cup winner is said to be keeping his options open regarding his future and it looks increasingly likely that he will leave the club in the summer, especially as Dortmund will have failed to qualify for the Champions League.
The Red Devils are said to have already agreed a deal in principle with the German star and although this has been denied by the man himself, the fact he is considering his future looks promising for United.
Raheem Sterling
Having stalled on signing a new contract at Liverpool, the future of Raheem Sterling looks in some doubt. And alongside Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City’ astonishingly United are also said to be interested in the 20-year-old and could be looking to offer £50m in order to prize him away from Anfield.
Given the fact Liverpool risk losing him on a free when his contract expires, if Sterling really has intentions of moving on and playing Champions League football then they could be left with little choice but to accept that type of money if a bid was to be made over the coming months.
Edinson Cavani
With both Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao having disappointed for much of the season, United could well be in the market for a new striker to lead their attack on the Champions League.
The future of the duo has been placed in some doubt of recent weeks and it is thought the club have lined up an audacious swoop for PSG star Edinson Cavani to replace the pair, having previously failed to sign him when David Moyes was in charge.
The Uruguayan forward was unhappy at being substituted last weekend casting fresh doubt over his happiness in Paris, and having been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time now this could finally be the summer Cavani arrives in England.
Nathaniel Clyne
One area Louis van Gaal will be keen to strengthen is the right-back position with Rafael out of favour and question marks over Antonio Valencia who has been filling in for much of the season.
And it appears the Dutchman feels the ideal man to fill this role is Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne with speculation growing over a proposed move to Old Trafford.
The Saints man has put in a number of impressive performances this season, and after breaking into the England squad would no doubt favour a move to a Champions League side.
The Red Devils are reportedly willing to offer Mexican striker Javier Hernandez as part of the deal, and with £15m on top of that; it may well prove enough to land the 23-year-old.
Kevin Strootman
Kevin Strootman continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United and reports suggest he is the main man on Van Gaal’s shopping list as he searches for a world class midfielder.
The Dutchman has been ravaged by injuries in recent seasons however and will play no further part in Roma’s season as he continues his recovery from a knee problem.
The 25-year-old has started just four games in 12 months for his club so would certainly be a risk, particularly given the fact he would probably cost upwards of £40m, but the United boss is an admirer of the Strootman having worked with him at international level and so it would be no surprise to see him do whatever it takes to get the deal done.