Following opening day defeat in the Premier League, Louis van Gaal and Manchester United are even more determined to force through a deal for Real Madrid midfielder, Ángel Di María. It is understood that chief executive, Ed Woodward has set aside £100 million in order to complete the record breaking move. This amount would cover the £50 million transfer fee and a reported £200,000-a-week contract.

Despite taking responsibility for Manchester United’s opening day home defeat to Swansea City, Louis van Gaal has admitted that the players available to him are not good enough and he is determined to add to this before the transfer window closes.

With this in mind, van Gaal has reportedly instructed Ed Woodward that Di María is top of this list and a priority for Manchester United to bring to Old Trafford.

The huge deal would see Di María become the most expensive player in the club’s history and a five-year contract on £200,000 a week would see him alongside Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie as the top earners at the club.

With no Champions League football to tempt the 26-year-old to Manchester, United know they will need to break the bank to persuade Di María to join.

Di María played for Real in their friendly defeat to Fiorentina on Friday, setting up Real’s only goal for Cristiano Ronaldo. Carlo Ancelotti has refused to be drawn on the speculation and told reporters that the Argentine international is available for the Spanish Supercopa against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.

“I don’t want to enter into this theme so I don’t lose focus on tomorrow’s game. Di Maria is available like all the others. He may or may not start the game and has opportunities, but like everyone else.”

Regading the speculation around Di María’s future, Ancelotti added, “I don’t know what Di Maria has decided. But I know that he’s training and that he could help us in tomorrow’s match. Until August 31 it will continue the same way and after that everything will be cleared up and things will return to normal.”