Manchester United transfer news: Louis van Gaal says he needs 'creative players' because Juan Mata 'does not fit profile'

However, the Dutchman is not expecting to see any new arrivals this month

Juan Mata (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United are in need of creative players, with Juan Mata not the answer on the right wing, according to their manager Louis van Gaal.

After his side's dour 1-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield United, secured with an injury time penalty from Wayne Rooney, Van Gaal revealed he was not satisfied with his current options.

The Dutchman's comments come despite spending £250m since taking over at the club and having been at the helm for 18 months.

Asked why he had failed to rectify issues within his squad, he said: "Because it is the most difficult situation in the match.

"It is like that and I have said also in the (summer) transfer period that we need creative players with speed and we don’t have that too much.

“Juan Mata is playing the right side and he is doing fantastically well because he always has a big contribution for our team, but he is not a right winger in the profile I have.

“But it is not so easy to purchase players who are better than Mata because even though he is in a different profile, he is a very good right winger in our way of playing.”

Despite acknowledging the need for new faces at Old Trafford, Van Gaal does not expect any arrivals this month.

“I don’t think that we shall do business in January,” he said.

“When there is a chance to make the selection better then we shall do it, but I don’t think we shall do that.”