Louis van Gaal to groom 10 players as new Manchester United era begins #IRepEntertain9jarBlog #TwitterTrendBlog via @myentertain9jar

LOUIS VAN GAAL is set to offload up to 10 players in a dramatic clear-out of Manchester United's top-heavy squad.

 

Louis van Gaal (centre) met Ryan Giggs (left) and Ed Woodward on his first day at work yesterday[GETTY]

Van Gaal met his new charges for the first time yesterday as he launched his reign as David Moyes' successor - but is already understood to have made up his mind about many of them.

The players under threat are Nani, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young, Shinji Kagawa, Javier Hernandez, Tom Cleverley, Anderson, Wilfried Zaha plus Bebe and Nick Powell who spent last season out on loan.

United have already released Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Alex Buttner and Federico Macheda, while Patrice Evra is expected to join Juventus and Ryan Giggs has hung up his boots to become Van Gaal's assistant.

It represents the biggest overhaul of players in United's modern history and reflects Van Gaal's determination to revamp a squad that finished seventh last season and failed to qualify for the Champions League.

United's absence from Europe means they can drastically trim a massive squad of 37 players with Van Gaal believed to want to work with a far tighter unit of around 23 or 24.

He has already bought Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera and is hoping to add an experienced centre-half - with Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen a target - plus a new left-back and another midfielder, although United sources have confirmed that Arturo Vidal is now not a target.

Van Gaal has only just returned from World Cup coaching duty with Holland [GETTY]

They have had a disastrous season under David Moyes and will still be seen by the opposition as team that can be beaten unless proven otherwise

Rene Meulensteen

Van Gaal wants to make room for promising youngsters like Tom Lawrence and James Wilson, who were given their debuts by Giggs at the end of last season, and Jesse Lingaard, who impressed in a loan spell with Birmingham last term, as well as the Keane brothers, Will and Tom.

Former United coach Rene Meulensteen warned his Dutch compatriot will not be afraid to bruise egos to get what he wants.

Meulensteen said: "Louis has got his own management style, which has thrown up a few difficulties along the way wherever he's been, Barcelona or Bayern Munich because of the way that he is, the way he puts himself in front of players.

"Players accept it or players sometimes don't. If they don't accept it, then you probably have a problem."

Meulensteen says Van Gaal needs to get off to a winning start to re-establish United's fear factor which disappeared last season when they experienced their worst home record since their relegation in 1974. He added: "They have had a disastrous season under David Moyes and will still be seen by the opposition as team that can be beaten unless proven otherwise. They need to win and keep winning." Van Gaal will be offically "unveiled" at a press conference at Old Trafford today before United embark on their two week pre-season tour of the US tomorrow.