Louis van Gaal says new Manchester United signings must have 'speed and creativity'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists the club must sign players with speed and creativity if they are to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

The club have considerably bolstered their midfield with the additions of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger while Matteo Darmian has arrived to help solve the club's problem at right back.

Memphis Depay is the only attacking addition to the side that finished 17 points of champions last season, however.

With Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao having already left the club and with Angel di Maria looking increasingly likely to join them, van Gaal is keen to strengthen his options in attack.

But he has stressed whoever the club signs must address the lack of pace in his side.

"We're not on schedule to be champions because we need speed and creativity at the front," van Gaal told the Daily Mail. "Whether we can win the title [in the next two seasons] is dependable if we can buy players with speed and creativity.

"The hardest decisions are always which players you buy and which have to go. We know the Premier League is different to all the other leagues and players have to adapt."

Van Gaal is keen to bring Barcelona winger Pedro to Old Trafford to help address these problems, according to the Guardian.

United coach Frans Hoek, a long-term ally of van Gaal, appeared to confirm United's interest in the player to Spanish newspaper Sport, although he did admit the move was "difficult".

Pedro himself was unable deny claims he will leave the Camp Nou this summer, much to the despair of two female supporters who asked the player about his future at Barcelona following the club's return from their tour of the United States.