Manchester United are not actively pursuing a centre-forward, with Louis van Gaal seemingly content to work with his current options in the position once the transfer window closes on 1 September.
If an elite No9 became a viable potential recruit, the manager would consider him and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema remains one such player who is being monitored.
Wayne Rooney’s patchy form in United’s opening three matches is of no concern to Van Gaal. This has not caused the Dutchman to identify any need to add a further frontline striker. Beyond Rooney, Van Gaal has Javier Hernandez and James Wilson as recognised finishers who are back-ups to the captain.
The manager is also open to Memphis Depay being tried as a centre-forward. The 21-year-old scored his first two goals for the club in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League first leg of the final knockout round. These came from a wide left position. This has further encouraged Van Gaal that Depay, who top-scored on PSV Eindhoven’s Eredivisie title triumph last season, can be a potent goal threat.
Van Gaal is also pleased with the unassuming manner in which Depay greeted the reactions to those goals, each of which was spectacular.
“When he scores goals you have to be modest,” he told MUTV. “I’ve seen that Memphis was modest in his answers to the media after his two goals and assist. I like that because there’s a long way still for him to go. He knows that, I know that, the club knows that and his fellow players know that. That’s the most important thing. Of course he was great in this match but you are not always great – that you have to know. You have to improve, improve, improve. It is always difficult to keep feet on the ground. For every player it is difficult to manage that attention. Up to now, he’s done that very well.”
