KP’s Euro Bite No.3: No Europe, No Sign? What transfer activity is in store for Manchester United under Van Gaal?

By Kate Partridge. Sir Alex Ferguson famously said: “My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f***ing perch.” In May 2011, the Scot triumphantly steered Manchester United past Liverpool’s mark to win a record 19^th English title. Two years later, he made it a round 20, and then retired.

In domestic terms, United are England’s most decorated club and Ferguson England’s most successful manager. But in European terms, those laurels still remain with five-time champions Liverpool and three-time winner, Bob Paisley.

Fitting then, that the two great rivals met in the final of the Champions Cup in Miami at a crunch point in their mutual history. Liverpool, a Suarez ban and Gerrard slip away from winning last year’s league title but in this year’s Champions League, against an exposed United side that finished a Premier League lowest seventh, and out of Europe for the first time since 1995.

United now though have a coach with Euro clout. Louis van Gaal won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and silverware with behemoths Barca and Bayern. The forthright Dutchman has also propelled United to six pre-season wins from six and put unfit newbie Luke Shaw on a training regime that would fell a Sherpa. Pundits and bookies alike have been cautiously impressed.

But is a marquee manager enough to lure top players to a club without the prospect of playing in Europe? According to a Guardian study, the average length of a footballer’s career is eight years. So, in theory, if a top player opts to go to a club without European football, and which isn’t guaranteed to earn it the following season, he is taking a gamble that could limit the achievements – and earnings – of almost a third of his career.

On the flip side, players with a point to prove, such as the unheralded and the young, get their chance. Van Gaal’s first signings indicate as much: midfielder Ander Herrera has yet to make his senior debut for Spain and defender Shaw is only 19. We have until September 1^st to see if a charismatic coach and glittering history are enough to persuade a star to head straight to Old Trafford – without passing Go or nipping off to Paris.

Liverpool have the opposite problem: a place in Europe with a young manager and a departed talisman. Luis Suarez’s exit for Barcelona leaves a 31-goal and umpteen-assist hole in the Reds’ attack. The £75m accrued from his sale in turn pushes up the price of any player of interest as other clubs look to cash in.

Sometimes the money isn’t worth the loss. In February 2011, Liverpool sold Fernando Torres to Chelsea. Despite being a relative flop, the Spaniard still won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with the Blues. In his absence, Liverpool won the League Cup on penalties against Championship Cardiff.

There’s also the salutary lesson of Gareth Bale’s sale at Tottenham. Real Madrid’s world-record fee for the Wales winger resulted in seven new players at the Lane – then accounted for the departure of at least one manager and ultimately finishing outside the Champions League places.

Neither Suarez nor Bale could be prevented from leaving and jetting off to Spain. The Herculean trick is either to successfully replenish that loss or make English teams attractive enough to want to stay.

Spain offers sunshine, status and an all-star platform. The next el clasico could feature Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, Bale, di Maria, Kroos and Ramos against Suarez, Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, Xavi, Pique…the list goes on like a Harlem Globetrotters’ reunion. England cannot offer an equivalent Battle of the Titans.

What it does offer is the thrill of competition. Last season, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal were all gunning for the title. This year, Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino are expected to add a stronger challenge. There’s also Everton. And then there’s Van Gaal.

Under the Dutchman, United are back to winning ways. They came from a goal down to beat Liverpool 3-1 to end their pre-season unbeaten, and return home with the new regime’s first silverware. And they have done so using a new and pragmatic 3-4-1-2 formation that best utilises their current crop, rather than incorporating expensive new players.

An inspired Wayne Rooney was captain and man of the tournament, Juan Mata has emerged as first-choice number 10, Ashley Young is reinventing himself as a wing-back. Youngsters – such as left-wing-back Reece James – were given a chance; striker James Wilson and winger Tom Lawrence can take heart.

Others who don’t fit – such as Marouane Fellaini, Nani and Anderson – are likely to be among those facing a quick exit after United arrive home. Van Gaal is already proving that old-fashioned man management, shrewd coaching and developing youth are fundamental to success at Old Trafford. Sounds familiar?

 And Van Gaal, unfettered by the distractions and drains of a European campaign, ironically can now focus on producing the very domestic success that can earn a place in Europe and a shot at true – historic – glory, if he sticks around. He can also do it with a smaller squad. He might well have to.

Will Van Gaal mastermind an immediate return to Champions League football for United? Who would you like to see join the Red Devils  before the start of the season? 

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