Louis van Gaal gives Manchester United list of desired players

Louis van Gaal is adamant that he can juggle two jobs at once despite the distraction that his impending appointment as Manchester United manager could have on Holland's World Cup campaign. 

The Dutchman says he "can manage the situation" and has already handed the club a list of transfer targets to work on while he focuses on his national team duties.

United are taking instructions from the Netherlands about when they should make an official proclamation that they have appointed Van Gaal as David Moyes' permanent successor.

Asked how important it is that his concentration is solely on Holland, Van Gaal said: "I have invested a lot of time in this, so you can imagine how very important [the World Cup] is for me and the players. I've been in football for 40 years. In three months I'm 63. So I can manage the situation."

He added: "You keep focused because of the training sessions, because of the team meetings and the tactical meetings. And because of the passion of the players that play at the world championships. It is always the case that we want to be focused on the competition."

Van Gaal has given Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, an A, B and C list of desired players. The prime potential acquisitions include Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben, who does not take his place in Holland's squad until after Saturday's German Cup final, the winger's club team-mate Thomas Müller, an attacking midfielder, and the Borussia Dortmund central defender, Mats Hummels. Van Gaal has also approved Southampton's Luke Shaw and Bayern's Toni Kroos, who were identified as transfer targets during Moyes' tenure.