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Louis van Gaal 'very pleased' Pep Guardiola will join City - and not so his job at Manchester United is safe

Van Gaal worked with Guardiola as his manager during their time together at Barcelona

Jack de Menezes

Wednesday 03 February 2016 10:39 GMT

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal waves to the fans after the 3-0 win over Stoke (Getty Images)

Louis van Gaal has admitted he is “very pleased” to see Pep Guardiola named as Manchester City’s manager from next season, and not because it ends speculation over the Spaniard replacing him at Manchester United.

Current City manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed at his press conference on Monday that he had been informed last month that Guardiola would replace him at the end of the season, despite the Chilean having a year left to run on his contract.

Guardiola’s availability has been known for some time after he declared in December his intention to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, with the former Barcelona manager deciding not to renew his contract.

The 45-year-old had been heavily linked with City given his ties with their technical director Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano, with the trio working together at Barcelona. However, there remained the possibility that United could try and hijack any deal should they decide to make do with Van Gaal’s services and replace the Dutchman.

That hasn’t been the case though, with United deciding not to launch any bid to replace Van Gaal, and the United manager admits he is looking forward to going up against the man who captained his Barcelona side when he managed at the Nou Camp.

"He is my former captain so I am very pleased to see him," Van Gaal said after Tuesday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Stoke.

"And I can speak Spanish so it is convenient for him."

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Ahmed Musa

Leicester City have been sniffing around the CSKA Moscow striker but United may hijack the deal, given their desperate need for pace and movement up front.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Franco Vazquez

The Italian international would offer a dynamic presence in attacking midfield, having impressed during his time at Palermo.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

<b>IN: </b>Neymar (Barcelona)

A long-term target of vice-chairman Ed Woodward but a fanciful one, who is said to want to move to a club where he will be the top dog. However, the Brazilian is negotiating a new deal at the Nou Camp and will use any reported interest as leverage in the contract talks.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Renato Sanches (Benfica)

Only 18-years-old but highly rated by the Portuguese club. United's scouts have watched the teenage midfielder multiple times in recent weeks and talks are already said to have taken place. Could cost £30m.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)

After Ashley Young's groin surgery United are facing a crisis at the back. Ryan Bertrand is said to be a target but when Luke Shaw returns will he really want to sit on the bench?

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all chasing the Bayern Munich striker, who has grown restless in Germany. His fee would be around £70m in the summer.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

The stand-out player of 2014/15 has stunk out 2015/16 and suffered a torrid few months at Stamford Bridge. A fresh start may be in order and his movement would be very welcome in United's static frontline.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

A long-term target, no doubt, but January may be a bit too soon. The Welshman’s troubles in Spain have eased slightly this term but he still plays second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu. At Old Trafford, he would take centre stage. The question is whether Bale, and Real president Florentino Perez, would be ready to call quits on record-breaking move to the Spanish giants.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had to tell Ed Woodward to stop emailing him earlier this year, so persistent were Manchester United in their chase of Muller. The roving forward would be a perfect fit at Old Trafford but any move would be a major coup.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Edinson Cavani (PSG)

United are in desperate need of some attacking reinforcements, and the Uruguayan would surely be able to aid them in their quest for goals and attacking flair. He would cost a hefty fee but always seems to be unhappy at the French club.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht)

The young Belgian midfielder, 18, is widely courted due to his versatility throughout the midfield. He would add genuine energy to United’s engine room, but would likely be one for the future with Louis van Gaal's squad currently brimming with central midfielders.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Breel Embolo (Basel)

The Swiss forward is still raw but direct in his play and would help bolster United’s meagre attacking options. Still only 18, it is possible that he and Anthony Martial could form a partnership which would provide United fans with years of entertainment.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)

Behind both Thiago Silva and David Luiz in the PSG pecking order, the Brazilian is frustrated with a lack of opportunites at the Parc des Princes. He's also attracted the interest of Chelsea.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan)

After making his debut in goal for Milan at the tender age of 16, clubs have been keen to see whether they can tie up a deal for the goalkeeper while he is still young. If United were to secure his signing, he could act as an excellent understudy (and potential future replacement) to David de Gea. However, his agent Mino Raiola has already said he is worth £150m.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Oumar Niasse

The Lokomotiv Moscow striker was voted the Russian Premier League’s player of 2015 and is being monitored by a host of Premier League clubs.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)

A more realistic target perhaps but the Algerian playmaker would still come at a cost. He has been, alongside Leicester City teammate Jamie Vardy, the Premier League’s stand-out performer this season. The question is whether he could maintain such form consistently and on a bigger stage. The Foxes meanwhile have no interest in selling.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Romelu Lukaku (Everton)

Consistent goals at Everton have seen the Belgium international linked with a host of clubs, including Manchester United. It's claimed Everton would want £65m in order to sell.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Sadio Mane (Southampton)

When United sounded out a move for the Senegalese forward at the end of the last transfer window, Southampton valued him between £35-40m. There is no suggestion that Mane’s pricetag has changed but then again, this is the United that paid a potential £58m for the relatively unproven Anthony Martial. That didn’t work out so terribly…

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Felipe Anderson (Lazio)

The 22-year-old Brazilian winger is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe, despite a difficult start to the season, and has regularly been linked with a move to United. Ed Woodward may have to beat competition from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain if he is to take Anderson off Lazio’s hands.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

James Rodriguez (midfield)

Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez faces an uncertain future after new head coach Zinedine Zidane left him out of the first-team named in his opening match in charge of the club. With Isco preferred in a three-man midfield, Rodriguez could decide that he needs to leave the club in order to secure first-team football.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United)

A lack of pace in attack has often been cited as one of the main problems for Louis van Gaal’s side. Perez would solve that, as well as providing a useful option off the bench.

Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Matteo Darmian (defender)

The 26-year-old Italian made a bright start to his Old Trafford career but has since gone off the boil. At times, he's struggled to get into Louis van Gaal's side, with Ashley Young preferred as a makeshift right-back. A move back to Serie A could be on the cards.

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Manchester United: Players linked with transfers

Marcos Rojo (defender)

The Argentinian has struggled with injuries since joining 18 months ago and was exiled for a short time after missing his flight for the club's pre-season tour. United could be ready to cut their losses on the £16million defender this January.

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Turning his attentions to United’s impressive win over a Stoke side that beat them 2-0 on Boxing Day, Van Gaal praised every aspect of his side’s display and the manager enjoyed being applauded from the pitch at Old Trafford following the full-time whistle.

"The players have made a great performance," he said. "They performed well not only defensively but now also attackingly because we have created a lot of chances and we have made fantastic finishing of team goals.

"That is what I like to see. I am pleased. The finishing was also very good."

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