Manchester United Already in Talks with Louis van Gaal Targets, Claims Peter Schmeichel

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel claims the club are already in talks with a number of Louis van Gaal's transfer targets – and is confident each of them is prepared to move to Old Trafford.

Van Gaal will officially begin his duties as United manager after Netherlands' World Cup campaign in Brazil but the 62-year-old coach has already confirmed he has handed the club's chief executive Ed Woodward a list of names he wants brought to the club.

Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas, Borussia Dortmund centre half Mats Hummels and Southampton full back Luke Shaw are among the names reportedly wanted by Van Gaal, who is expected to make sweeping changes to the side that recorded their worst ever Premier League finish last season.

Last summer United suffered the indignity of having a number of players, including Fabregas, reject their overtures but Schmeichel feels van Gaal's presence will ensure the club do not encounter similar problems in the months ahead.

"He is a big enough name and I know the list that he's given Ed Woodward," Schmeichel said. "All of them are in talks and are willing to join Manchester United. So you can argue that United still has the brand, the players still want to come here.

"Is it going to work? I don't know. We'll have to wait and see. It's a long summer."

Van Gaal, who recently revealed he was set on taking the Tottenham Hotspur job until United came calling, will not arrive in Manchester until Netherlands' World Cup campaign ends but Schmiechel believes it will be worth the wait.

"He has his own style and is a very determined man," he continued. "He knows exactly what he wants. He's got direction, the ability and the experience at big clubs such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

"He's also with the Dutch team now, a team that could possibly win the World Cup. So for me, you can't go bigger than that. This is one of the very few on the top shelf."