All the talk of Van Gaals first moves as manager of Manchester United have been over the transfer kitty being handed to him, with a reported 150million available to strengthen the squad in the summer.After a disappointing season in which they finished seventh in the Premier League table and ended the season trophyless, the United board want the squad ripped apart and rebuilt in order to see them climb back up onto the pedestal they have made their own over the past 20 years.Van Gaal has a habit of building his side around a Dutch core, so one would think that with just Robin van Persie (and, er Alex Buttner) currently at the club for the nation of Netherlands, he would delve into the transfer market to bring a number of compatriots to the club.However, perhaps Van Gaal should look a little closer to home and seek to use some of the youngsters already at the club to bolster his squad next season, with a number of the reserves having impressed in their loan spells away from the club.Here are four players who could Van Gaal should consider giving an opportunity around the first-team squad next season. Were not suggesting make them regulars, just given the opportunity to push for a spot.
#1 Michael Keane
The less celebrated of the Keane brothers with brother Will attracting more headlines, but Michael Keane is perhaps the kind of player United need in their squad next season, given Will faces a multitude of attacking competition and has been linked with a move away for United.
Michael Keane is a centre-back however and with both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand exiting the club in the summer, there is room for at least one more in the squad to provide competition alongside Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans.
We expect United to sign one class centre-back in the summer to be a guaranteed starter, but bringing in more than that could prove problematic, with all three other players perhaps expecting regular roles in the team.
33 interceptions were made in that time and he contributed three goals himself, as he proved he belongs as a professional footballer and could do a fine job in reserve to the established order, with even the potential to overtake them yet.
Young Keane however enjoyed an exceptional loan spell in which his performances helped propel Blackburn Rovers to the brink of snatching a play-off place, making 13 appearances to win 57% of his tackles and 60% of his aerial duels as well.
#2 Guillermo Varela
Hands up who forgot David Moyes made two signings last summer? Marouane Fellaini wasnt the only the man he brought to United with him when he arrived, with youngster Varela also joining the club.
We expect the club had been tracking the young Uruguayan before Moyes anyway, but technicalities aside, it was a difficult first year in England for Varela following his arrival from Penarol, with his struggle to settle in England compounded by a car accident that severely injured his parents back in his homeland.
However, Varela had only just impressed a number of people at the Youth South American championships and cost United a cool 2.5million, so with a new manager and a clean slate in front of him, its time to integrate him into the first-team squad now or risk being outcasted forever.
Given that Rafael was utterly dreadful last season and has every right to be shipped out, Varela should be given the chance to compete with Chris Smalling for a place in the first-team and remind United fans just who he is.
#3 Nick Powell
Perhaps it’s time to stop tip toeing around Nick Powell and promote him to the team, give him a confident backing and let him let rip and display the talents that have seen him given this reputation as one of England’s most promising players.
A year on loan in the Championship has done him well and he more than held his own at Wigan and maybe aged 20, it is time to unleash him on the Premier League, given that he already has one goal for the Red Devils.
Powell netted seven goals in his 31 appearances for Wigan last season and created 35 chances for the Latics, more than any Manchester United midfielder that wasn’t Juan Mata, putting the likes of Shinji Kagawa to shame.
Powell completed 35 take-ons as well and earned 49 free-kicks for being upended, while the fighting spirit needed to make it in the big league was on display as Powell won 41 tackles with a success rate of 56%.
If Van Gaal still thinks it’s too soon, a mooted loan move to newly-promoted Leicester City might prove beneficial, but one feels there is plenty United can gain himself from integrating Powell into first team affairs in the same way Adnan Januzaj has the season just passed.
#4 Jesse Lingard
If you thought we were going to say James Wilson, I’m sure he can be a decent player in time – but one swallow doesn’t make a summer, and he is one that would probably benefit from a loan spell away to improve his all-round game.
Jesse Lingard is one of those that has benefited from time away from Old Trafford, with his spells at both Birmingham City and Brighton having proved extremely successful, with Michael Carrick having talked up the England Under 21 international.
Lingard has been directly involved in 16 goals in the Championship this season, netting four goals in one game alone for Birmingham, with his debut there going exceptionally well, while he has 10 in total, alongside six assists from the midfield.
The 21-year-old has created 52 chances for both clubs in his 30 league appearances while his tackling has been exceptional as well for both sides, suggesting he might just have that dynamic edge that could prove useful in United’s bid to climb back up the table again next season.
