Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has reportedly asked the Red Devils to complete a few signings, before he takes over the reins at Old Trafford in July.
van Gaal, who is currently busy preparing Netherlands for the 2014 World Cup, has reportedly asked executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to make some progress in the negotiations for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Yevhen Konoplyanka, Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels and Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger, according to the Mirror.
Woodward, who succeeded David Gill, was criticised last summer for pursuing unrealistic transfer targets - including Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara, Gareth Bale and even Cristiano Ronaldo - and eventually ending up with just Marouane Fellaini.
The 42-year-old, who also received a lot of flak for paying over the odds for panic buy Fellaini, was lucky not to be axed along with former boss David Moyes as his inaction in the summer market also played a big part in United's poor season.
Woodward is not out of the line of fire yet as United will be keeping a watchful eye on him this summer. His first task will be to get Dnipro winger Konoplyanka, who is understood to be at the top of van Gaal's shopping list this summer. However, the Red Devils will be facing competition from Liverpool, who have been eyeing the Ukrainian since January.
Liverpool will probably have a slight advantage over United if they follow up on Konoplyanka as they are able to offer Champions League football. Still, the 24-year-old may be tempted to join Old Trafford, if United offer him higher wages.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers may, however, give up the pursuit of Konoplyanka, if they manage to land Southampton's Adam Lallana this summer. However, that deal is currently on standby as the Saints, who are demanding £30m for the England star, are understood to be not willing to accept Liverpool's offer of £25m.
Meanwhile, van Gaal, who is currently preparing the Dutch for their final pre-World Cup friendly against Wales on Wednesday, has fired a warning at the United hierarchy, saying he will not tolerate any sort of interference when it comes to team management, playing style or tactics.
The 62-year-old made a reference to the time he quit Bayern, when the German club's former president Uli Hoeness tried to influence the team tactics.
"I decide for myself what formation my team plays. No director does that for me. Yeah, Hoeness did, that's why I left," van Gaal pointed out.
