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No fixed budget?
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has hinted at more signings in an interview with the club’s official channel MUTV while talking to Stewart Gardner in Los Angeles.
"We’ve been working with Louis over several weeks with regards to targets and we’re continuing to move forward on some of those targets," Woodward said.
"We are still a huge attraction to top football stars around the world – there is no doubt about that. I hope [fans] will see the direction we’re heading in with the new manager, coaching staff and players, and a commitment to do what it takes to get back to the top.
"We are willing to invest. There is no fixed budget. Financially we are extremely strong and funds are available. Louis is assessing what’s going on and there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes, so watch this space."
The 20-time-league champions have been linked with several players including Juventus’ Arturo Vidal, Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Marco Reus and Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen in recent times.
Biggest club in the world
“It’s the biggest club in the world. We are represented in more countries now than McDonalds. Stats like that, I love.” he exclaimed
"It’s a huge honour to be in this role. This is the biggest sports team in the world, not just the biggest football team. So by definition it’s a massive job and I’m loving it,"
On whether Manchester United can attract the biggest names in the world he said,
“Absolutely, absolutely, there’s no question in my mind about that, I’ve experienced a lot of conversations with agents and players and we are still a huge attraction to top football stars around the world, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that, that’s not creating any issues in any of the conversations that I’ve had.”
Players may leave
Having already completed the signings of left-back Luke Shaw and central midfielder Ander Herrera, Woodward revealed that some players could leave the club.
"Yes, I think so. The manager makes that decision. A few players have already gone and there may well be a few others.
"It’s also worth commenting that we’re not in Europe this year, so there are fewer games and Louis may take the view that he wants a tighter squad to bed in.”
“If you do the analysis over last year, Liverpool performed extremely well with a smaller number of players but that's a decision for the manager."
We can do what most clubs cannot: Woodward
Woodward also reiterated that Manchester United want to flex their financial muscle in the transfer market.
“ If Louis van Gaal changes his mind about wanting Player X and tells us that now he wants Player Y then we have the financial ability to do that.” he claimed.
“Our financial position allows us to do things in the transfer market that most other clubs cannot do.”
“I don’t want to see players going to other clubs in Spain, I want us to stand out as the best club in the world.”
Manchester United back on winning track
"We’re a club that absolutely should be in the Champions League," he said. "That’s what our fans want, that’s what our players want and that’s what every member of staff wants.
"We have to strive to win. We’re not here to be an also-ran; we’re here to win trophies to add to that huge, incredible list that we’ve won over many years."
Criticism on Social Media
“I think you have to take the rough with the smooth. I don’t necessarily read every single article.
I think Phil Townsend gets more bothered about it than I do, it’s important to understand what fans are thinking and fan engagement is something I’ve tried to increase in the last 12 months and I view the media as a very useful conduit to that so if the fans are unhappy about something I want to know so that we can react to that.
We monitor a lot of social media as well so it’s between the normal press and also social media that we look at.”
You can watch the video of the interview below:
