Louis van Gaal claims David De Gea will stay at Manchester United

Despite not being part of United’s matchday squads this season, Van Gaal insists De Gea won’t be sold

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said that the club won’t be selling wantaway goalkeeper David de Gea in the present transfer window, Sky Sports reports. The Dutchman also made an indirect reference to Pedro’s transfer to Chelsea claiming that United never seriously pursued the former Barcelona forward.

Spanish international De Gea is interested in returning to his home country with Real Madrid interested in bringing in the keeper to succeed Iker Casillas who moved to Porto this summer. The Spanish club, however, have been unwilling to match United’s £35-million valuation of the 24-year-old who is in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford.

Recent reports had suggested that Real, who promoted Keylor Navas as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper following Casillas’ departure and also signed Kiko Casilla from Espanyol as backup, were willing to wait for a year in an effort to sign De Gea on a free transfer next summer. In fact, the report stated that they will offer the young custodian £12 million as signing on fee to see out his contract with the English club.

Van Gaal has kept De Gea out of the matchday squads for all of United’s matches this season citing a lack of focus on the player’s part but insists that he won’t be sold this summer.

“We are not selling De Gea," he said.

Van Gaal claims United were never interested in Pedro

Van Gaal claims that new Chelsea signing Pedro was never a target for United

The United manager also had his say on Pedro’s move to Premier League champions Chelsea from Barcelona. The 28-year-old was a long-term target for United and had reportedly even agreed personal terms with the club. Van Gaal, though claims that Pedro was never a target for United.

"We have 28 players and I have said already we have a better balance in terms of selection, but we want to improve. But we want to improve in our way and not the way that people are saying.

“When we buy it has to make a contribution to our selection and not at any price,” a defiant Van Gaal said. “We have a double for every position but when we can improve we shall do."

Apart from the Spanish forward, Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi, yet another player who was reportedly close to making a switch to Old Trafford, moved to bitter rivals Manchester City from Valencia. The double blow had led to suggestions that United were not a desired destination for players. There were also reports that Pedro had turned down United because of Van Gaal’s managerial style.

The Dutchman dismissed the suggestions and was bullish in his reply claiming that any player who has been seriously targeted by United will end up at Old Trafford.

“I think when Manchester United wants a player he shall come, besides when a club is not selling," Van Gaal said. “It is the same with us.”