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Edwin van der Sar has warned the Premier League’s big hitters that new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is ready to “do a Liverpool” with the Old Trafford giants.

Ex-Man United keeper Van der Sar, who played under Van Gaal for Ajax and the Dutch national team, has also warned European football’s money-grabbers that his old boss will not allow them to take advantage of the Reds’ desperation to sign new faces to help them break back into the top four.

Deposed champions United are at a disadvantage this summer as they compete for quality stars with Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal - all of whom can offer their targets Champions League football.

But Van der Sar said: “Van Gaal will spend the right money on the right player to ensure that they are right for United.

“He will know if they have the United DNA of the club inside of them. If not he will let them go and let them go to other clubs. You have to play and you have to fight for Manchester United. Not only come for the money.

“What’s more important? £20k or £30k more a week or the priviledge of playing for a coach like Van Gaal?

“It's a massive club and if you are able to participate in that and to contribute to winning a title then you are settled for life because you have the adoration of the club.”

Van der Sar - the most capped player in the Dutch national team’s history -lifted four titles and the Champions League among his many trophies at Old Trafford between 2005 and 2011.

Under Van Gaal at Ajax he clinched three domestic league titles, the UEFA Cup and the Champions League among his glittering haul of trophies.

While United broke all the wrong records under David Moyes last season, surrendering their title and falling to seventh in the League, Van der Sar believes his former boss can surpass the achievement of Brendan Rodgers, who took champions City to the wire after a seventh-placed finish last year.

The 43-year-old, now back at Ajax working as a marketing director, went on: “It will be difficult to get from seventh to first, but Liverpool almost did it and I think United have more qualities than ­Liverpool on that score.

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“Van Gaal is going to be very clear about what he wants and what he demands from his players.

“It's great that Ryan Giggs is going to stay on as assistant coach so that Van Gaal has input from him and will know the feeling in the dressing room.

“Of course it's going to be a tricky period for him with the World Cup deciding on what transfers he will need. But if anyone can cope with a situation like this it is Van Gaal.

“His credentials in Spain, in Germany, in Holland with the national team speak for themselves. He has won the title in every country.

“He has a history of winning trophies, of bringing young players through, of working with big players.

“He is a very hard-working coach and he is a guy who makes players better. He also sends out the right signals about the kind of football he wants to play to the players.”

Asked if he would consider returning to the club as a coach, Van der Sar said: “I would stay at Ajax because my mission is not to become United’s goalkeeping coach.

“Van Gaal is bringing a very capable coach in Frans Hoek. He was my goalkeeping coach at Ajax and with the national team, so I am sure David De Gea will be in good hands.”

* Edwin van der Sar is an Ambassador for Laureus, which has raised over 60 million euros to support projects which have helped to improve the lives of millions of young people in 34 countries. For more information visit www.laureus.com