Buying a striker not a priority for Man United: Van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said that buying a forward is not a priority for the English football club this season.

Dutch striker Robin van Persie and Colombian Radamel Falcao have both left Old Trafford and Wayne Rooney, who was often playing as a midfielder last season, has been put in the forward line, as was seen in the game against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

United clinched the game 1-0 courtesy of a Kyle Walker own goal but the lacklustre show prompted critics to question Rooney.

"No, that is not a special item for me. It is more in the media they are discussing about a striker. The striker is Wayne Rooney and we also have (Javier) Hernandez, (Adnan) Januzaj and (James) Wilson. It is not a special objective for me," van Gaal was quoted as saying by goal.com on Monday.

"But when we can buy another striker who has a lot of qualities, more than our players, then we buy. But we have always done that. I said it before but they (the media) are not writing it. I have said it before, we have Rooney. You (the media) said he has to play in a striker's position."

Van Gaal also said that he would want United's latest recruit, Dutch star Memphis Depay, to step up and deliver as quickly as possible after being forced to play behind Rooney.

"It is a new position for him and he has to adapt because he is a goal-scoring type. We have to wait and see if he can fulfil the demands of this position but (he's playing there) because Ashley Young is playing very good on the left side," said the manager.