Will Louis Van Gaal keep the United promise?

Article by e-Football Correspondent Terry Carroll

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For all the fresh daily transfer rumours surrounding Manchester United, one group of players must not be forgotten. While up to seven new signings may arrive and several may leave like Nani, Anderson, Young, Cleverley and even Patrice Evra, it is surely United's youngsters who will be most concerned for their future.

The ill-fated choice of David Moyes and especially that of Van Gaal carried a commitment to develop youth in much the same way as Sir Alex Ferguson followed Sir Matt Busby's blueprint.

Speaking after Van Gaal's appointment, Joel Glazer said: “I am delighted that Louis will be our next manager. He has an outstanding pedigree as a coach, both as a man who motivates his teams to win trophies and as someone who believes in giving young players a chance to prove their worth. I am sure he will make a big impression on the club, the players and the fans."

There are those who will point to the World Cup and challenge that commitment, with Paul Pogba starring for France, having left United. Many Red Devils fans will be angry at the apparent carelessness that allowed a player now valued at £60 million to leave for next to nothing.

While insiders at United insist that Sir Alex tried everything to keep him but was baulked by a salary limit for younger players (which was torn up to keep Adnan Januzaj), fans still point to limited opportunities for the likes of Jesse Lingard, Michael Keane and Wilfried Zaha last season.

What are the prospects for Manchester United's youngsters?

Maybe Van Gaal will adopt a different approach to Moyes and blood more young talent, but the best prospects will be reading the daily rumours and especially noting the age of some prospective signings.

In midfield, United have already signed Ander Herrera and there are strong rumours about William Carvalho and Arturo Vidal. With two in their early 20s, these do not bode well for Andres Pereira, Ben Pearson or Charni Ekangemene.

In attack, the names of Memphis Depay, Angel di Maria and Alexis Sanchez keep popping up, but Edinson Cavani and Jackson Martinez now seem unlikely to come. James Rodriguez would delight United fans, but he now looks more like an opportunity that Sir Alex apparently missed twice.

Adnan Januzaj has already established himself in the first team squad and it appears that United have rebuffed approaches from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. But Jesse Lingard was a prospect before the young Belgian and Paul Scholes is insistent he must get his chance.

Loan attempts have been refused for James Wilson and Will Keane seems to have signed a new long term contract, so there are opportunities in the striking department, especially if, as seems likely, Javier Hernandez will leave. Surely Wilson is a better prospect for England at the 2018 World Cup than either Daniel Sturridge or Wayne Rooney?

Robin van Persie is likely to be a stalwart under Van Gaal. He is 31 in August and may even be club captain, so Rooney may be more under threat than the younger players, including Danny Welbeck, especially if the manager opts for a formation with just one striker.

So the greatest disappointments may come in defence. Here we are even talking about Chris Smalling and Phil Jones at 24 and 22 respectively. While Sir Alex was manager, and even with Moyes' apparent interest in Ezekiel Garay, these two could have looked forward to perhaps becoming the established central defensive partnership for England, as well as Manchester United.

Now all positions in defence may be up for grabs. If the rumours about Thomas Vermaelen are true it is Jonny Evans who may feel most threatened. Like the Belgian he can play left back as well as centre-back.

Luke Shaw will surely be the incumbent left back and if Evra goes to Juventus, Vermaelen would be cover. Reece James may be disappointed but he does not yet look close to a first team place.

The most puzzling rumours may be about right back. Not surprisingly Daryl Janmaat is one of several Dutch players linked with the incoming manager, but surely United do not need another right back?

If, as seems likely, Van Gaal favours wing backs, Rafael da Silva is exactly the type of player to fit the role. Surely the Dutchman can rejuvenate this young talent. But behind Rafael there is a queue of bright prospects.

Saidi Janko undoubtedly fits the mould and it is to be hoped that Ryan Giggs will already be making his case to the boss. But there is also Uruguayan U21 right back Guillermo Varela and young Belgian Marnick Vermijl, who has made 42 international appearances up to U21s and played 27 times for Dutch side NEC on loan last season.

Returning to centre-back, stories about Mats Hummels, Stefan de Vrij and even Bruno Martins Indi and Eliaquim Mangala continue to swirl. While it is clear that United need a senior centre-back to replace at least one of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, do they really need two such players if Vermaelen arrives to complement Evans, Jones and Smalling?

If that happened then top English prospects Michael Keane and Tom Thorpe might feel that like Ryan Shawcross they should look elsewhere, at least on loan until the position clarifies.

Finally, in goal, there is no need to sign a new 'number one' as David De Gea is surely set to challenge Thibault Courtois as the best in the world before long. United have signed a young Serb, Vanja Milinkovic but he is only 17 and will be on loan next season.

Surely United can release Anders Lingard with both Ben Amos and England U21 Sam Johnstone waiting in the wings?

The key importance of the pre-season US tour

Everyone will have their eyes on United in the US this summer, but they may not see many new signings until the end of July because of post World Cup holidays for most of them, some of whom won't even arrive until their participation is ended.

Van Gaal has committed to join the tour as soon as the World Cup ends and surely this will give him the chance to run the rule over his youth prospects?

United may take more U21s than in previous years for all these reasons. The most likely names are surely: Lingard, Wilson, Will and Michael Keane, Pereira, Pearson, Janko, Varela, Vermijl, Johnstone, Thorpe and Ekangemene.

Jones, Smalling, Evans and Welbeck will be desperate to impress the manager but for any of the younger prospects above, especially if they miss the trip and with potentially up to seven new arrivals, the writing may be on the wall.

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