Manchester United: Louis van Gaal will use Javier Hernandez to lure top targets to Old Trafford

Manchester United are reportedly set to use striker Javier Hernandez as part of a player-plus-cash deal to land their top transfer targets this summer, some of whom have also been targeted by Arsenal.

According to the Mirror, Louis van Gaal has made it clear that the Mexican international is not part of his plans for next season and will be allowed to leave the club in the summer.

Hernandez spent the entire season on loan with Real Madrid and has since returned after the Spanish club rejected the option of making his deal permanent, despite former manager Carlo Ancelotti regularly using him as a backup for Karim Benzema.

The United forward failed to break into the first-team on a regular basis, but did make an impact in the latter stages of Real's campaign, when he scored five goals in his last 11 appearances for the club including a last minute goal in the Spanish capital club's win over city rivals Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Van Gaal is hoping that his late season form has caught the attention of interested clubs and the manager wants to use him as a makeweight in deals for the Red Devils' top transfer targets in the summer.

The Old Trafford club have already begun the process and captured Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven, and are currently in the market for a defender, a midfielder and a forward.

The former Bayern Munich manager is targeting moves for Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels and Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne, and will offer the Mexican forward as part of the deal to interested clubs.

The manager is also keeping an eye on Benedikt Howedes of Schalke and AS Monaco's Geoffrey Kondogbia, who have both been watched by Arsenal in the past as potential targets.