LVG ready to strengthen defence

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has been given the green light to go out and bring in his top transfer targets with a reported £150 million at his disposal for the remainder of the January transfer window.

As has been covered over on bluesq in recent days, there have been plenty of questions asked of LVG since the turn of the year, not least in terms of his plans for this transfer window.

Following a meeting with United's chief executive, Ed Woodward, and other senior United management figures, Van Gaal is rumoured to have been given the go-ahead to go out and strengthen his squad in the hope of getting back into this season's title race.

With the continuing problems with the United defence, Van Gaal has long been chasing Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels and the German World Cup winner could be top of the Dutchman's transfer list.

While Dortmund are far from keen on selling their talisman, a huge offer from United could be enough to convince the struggling Bundesliga side to cash in on the defender.

And with the Champions League looking a long way away for Dortmund next year, Hummels might not take too much convincing to sign for a United team that look set to finish in the top four this season.

As well as the German centre-back, United are also in the market for a new right-back and both Nathaniel Clyne and Seamus Coleman have been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

While Southampton would want a large transfer fee to part with another one of their young starlets, United are believed to have Clyne as their preferred choice ahead of Everton's Coleman, who himself would command a significant fee.

With both Southampton and Everton unlikely to be looking to sell this month, it might take a large chunk of Van Gaal's transfer budget to sign a right-back in January.