Louis van Gaal refused to comment on Danny Welbeck’s future as speculation mounts the England striker is set to leave Manchester United.
Reports yesterday suggested Welbeck, who joined United in 2007, has been told he can depart Old Trafford. The 23-year-old started the majority of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, but is unlikely to jump ahead of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in the pecking order, and is therefore free to go.
In a heated press conference at the club’s training ground yesterday, Van Gaal refused to confirm or deny the story, but the new United manager admitted he was angry details of a private conversation he held with Welbeck had been leaked.
Van Gaal said: “The media were not in the room and I do not speak about that because that’s private. I know what I said to Danny and Danny knows what I said to him. I assume that Danny is not saying anything about our conversation and also in that conversation was (assistant) Ryan Giggs and he doesn’t say anything either.”
The decision to allow Welbeck, a local boy who worked his way through the ranks at Old Trafford, to go will come as a surprise to some United fans, particularly as Van Gaal does not have a strong selection of strikers to choose from.
Javier Hernandez is the only other senior striker available to the Dutchman, and he has been linked with a move away from the club.
Van Gaal is determined to streamline his squad, and it is understood up to 12 players have been informed they can leave.
For the first time since taking over as manager, Van Gaal cut an angry figure as he addressed the media. The former Ajax manager, who lost his first Premier League game to Swansea last week, has been stung by criticism he has received for a lack of transfer activity.
“Two weeks ago I was the king of Manchester and now I am the devil of Manchester,” Van Gaal said.
But despite his ire, Van Gaal remains committed to signing new players before the transfer window shuts. The club have privately distanced themselves from reports they are close to signing Angel Di Maria. Dutch duo Kevin Strootman and Daley Blind are on Van Gaal’s shortlist, as is Sami Khedira.