Manchester United transfer news: United made aware Angel di Maria is available whilst Mats Hummels has not been discounted

As Manchester United continue their hunt for reinforcements, chief executive Ed Woodward admits he would have liked to have worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson following his difficult first season

Angel Di Maria celebrates his winner against Switzerland (EPA)

Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward has admitted that he is yet to win full credibility in his role at the helm of the club and wishes that he could have had a year working with Sir Alex Ferguson to prepare him for it.

Woodward was savaged in some quarters on social media amid United’s disastrous first season following Ferguson’s departure and fans remain anxious about reinforcements for the new season, with only 19-year-old Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera so far signed after a summer of wholesale departures and central defence clearly a problem.

Stefan de Vrij, Thomas Vermaelen, Daley Blind are potential signings, while United have been made aware that Angel di Maria is on the market and signing Mats Hummels has not been entirely discounted, despite a feeling that Borussia Dortmund will be willing to let him join an exodus.

But with Louis van Gaal only now able to assess the potential available to him outside of the club’s top 15 players, United’s squad 25 days out for the curtain raiser against Swansea City is weaker than it was when the last Premier League season finished with United marooned in seventh.

"[Last season] It was a challenging year,” Woodward said. “In an ideal situation, I would have worked with Alex for a year. I would love to have done it personally. But you gain credibility through experience, through time. You can't expect credibility from day one and I wouldn't ask that of the fans.”