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Louis van Gaal has hinted he’s ready to dip into the January transfer market to buy the winger he thinks Manchester United need before they can win the title.

United remained in touch with the leaders with a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on Saturday thanks to Jesse Lingard’s first senior goal and a late Juan Mata penalty.

Lingard and Mata were deployed on the wings against Tony Pulis’ side.

(Image: Eddie Garvey)

But after the game Van Gaal suggested the pair were not his ideal candidates to fill the wide roles in his team with the Dutchman promising to ‘finish’ the problem – possibly in January.

He said: “I have said already in my first year many times we need speed and creativity on the wings.

“You have seen that now we play with Jesse Lingard and he is not the most speedy winger in the world and Mata is also not the most speedy winger in the world.

“So first we must first finish that problem and then we can see how we have to play and how we are in balance with playing with speedy wingers.”

United were interested in Southampton’s Sadio Mane in the summer while Van Gaal went on record to praise the qualities of Eden Hazard and Neymar during the pre-season tour of the United States.

He's also been linked with Real Madrid's Gareth Bale.

The 64-year-old is refusing to rule out moves to bolster his attacking options when the January transfer window opens while also admitting he may be forced to sign another left-back if Luke Shaw, who is recovering from a broken leg, is sidelined for longer than expected.

He added: “It is also dependable on what I can buy. I want to buy a lot of players but not all the players I want are for sale. So there are a lot of factors in it.

“It is dependable for instance on the rehabilitation of Luke Shaw – how long it will last. “

United v West Brom in pictures.