Van Gaal opens up: United inquired about signing players in January plus Spanish interest in Varela

The Manchester United manager has opened up that the club tried to sign a left back during the January transfer window.

United were short of defenders in the left back position, after Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Ashley young and Matteo Darmian were all out injured.

However youngster Cameron Bortwick-Jackson came in and did a fantastic job in the left back position, and the media hailed Van Gaal for believing in the player.

Speaking ahead of United's clash with West Brom, Van Gaal said: (Via ESPN)

"Also in January that we took the risk for the left-back position that we didn't buy.

"We needed a left-back and we inquired about a lot of players. Some have said it now.

"It is always the agent that is doing that because it is interesting Man United is inquiring, but we said, 'Okay, maybe Borthwick-Jackson and Varela can do the job'.

"There was Spanish interest in Varela and we said no because of that."

Varela himself had revealed that he wanted to leave United in January, but Van Gaal convinced him not to move.  The Uruguayan defender and Borthwick-Jackson have done  great jobs on the wingback in the absence of the regulars.