adminLONDON. – Wayne Rooney believes recruiting the right players this summer can see Manchester United challenge for the English Premier League soccer title next season.
United have already signed Dutch winger Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven on a four-year deal.
They are also interested in bringing Sergio Ramos to England from Real Madrid and Sky sources understand there has been initial contact between the sides on a possible transfer.
United are believed to be keen on Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger too after he made only 15 starts for the Bundesliga champions last term.
Louis van Gaal’s side finished fourth and claimed the final Champions League place in 2014/15 but only after a stuttering start.
Just three wins in their opening 10 games had his team sitting 10th in early November and Rooney thinks a better start in the next few months could make a difference.
He said on his official website: “I honestly believe we will go far next year and won’t be far off challenging for the league.
“If you look at the first 10 to 11 games, we only had around 13 points and if you look at where we finished, I think it shows we could have been up there with a better start.
“We’ve dominated and outplayed most teams but haven’t taken our chances to win those games. It could have been a different story if we had.
“The most important thing is as a squad, including the manager and myself, we believe we are close to challenging for the title.
“With a couple of signings in the summer we will have a good chance of doing that. It would be good to win as many cups as possible.
“A club like Manchester United should be winning trophies and hopefully next season we can put that right.”
United won 20 league games last season to improve slightly on 2013/14, when they finished a lowly seventh and failed to qualify for Europe.
Although they were still 17 points behind champions Chelsea, Rooney was pleased with the progress they made in Van Gaal’s first year at the helm.
He added: “You have to realise that at the start of the season we had a new manager, new coaches and a lot of new players.
“It was always going to be a tough ask for us to win the Premier League. It was a bit disappointing not to win any silverware, especially the FA Cup after the defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
“We had a great chance of going on to win that. It would have been a disaster if we didn’t get that Champions League spot but the main thing is that the club is now back where it belongs.”
Meanwhile, Angel di Maria has vowed to fight for his place at Manchester United despite admitting he is “uncomfortable” being used as a substitute.
Barcelona are among the clubs interested in the Argentina winger while Paris St Germain are the bookmakers’ favourites to sign him this summer.
However, when asked if he felt uncomfortable, Di Maria said: “Yes, for me and my family, because not everything goes as I want, because I don’t play. But I will not leave because I’m not thinking like that.
“In Madrid there were times when I was whistled around the stadium, but I faced it and then it turned around. I like to deal with things.”
Di Maria, who joined United for a British-record £59.7million 12 months ago, was used sparingly by manager Louis van Gaal during the second half of the season.
“I started well with goals and assists,” said the former Real Madrid star.
“I was having a good time, until I was outside of the first team. It’s a little hard to explain why I do not play.
“I came with an intention of playing and ended up on the bench. It’s hard to say how I feel there.”
The Cheshire home rented by United goalkeeper David De Gea has been put up for sale, fuelling speculation he is Real Madrid bound. – Sky Sports.
Online Reporter