Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United can challenge for the Premier League title next season if they get their recruitment right this summer.

The Red Devils captured the final Champions League place last season after a stuttering start to the campaign but were never in title contention and finished 17 points behind champions Chelsea.

Louis van Gaal's recruitment drive for next term has already begun with the acquisition of Memphis Depay and Rooney is confident that United can compete at the very top with the right additions to the squad.

"I honestly believe we will go far next year and won't be far off challenging for the league," he said on his website.

"If you look at the first 10 to 11 games we only had around 13 points, and if you look at where we finished I think it shows we could have been up there with a better start.

"We've dominated and outplayed most teams this season but haven't taken our chances to win those games, it could have been a different story if we had.

"The most important thing is that as a squad, including the manager and myself, we believe we are close to challenging for the title and with a couple of signings in the summer we will have a good chance of doing that.

"It would be good to win as many cups as possible, a club like Manchester United should be winning trophies and hopefully next season we can put that right."

Manchester United season player ratings Show all 24 1 /24 Manchester United season player ratings Manchester United season player ratings GOALKEEPERS: David De Gea Easily the side's best player this season, the Spanish goalkeeper saved United numerous times this season. The best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season, it will be a huge task to replace him. 9.5/10 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Victor Valdes Showed in the final game at Hull the full range of his game - an absolutely brilliant shot-stopper but weak under the high ball. A capable stop-gap if De Gea does leave, but United need someone better. 5 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings DEFENDERS: Rafael Da Silva Totally lost the trust of Van Gaal this season and started just six Premier League games, with the Dutch coach preferring to play Antonio Valencia in the out of position. Seemingly has no future at the club. 2 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Luke Shaw Didn't come close to justifying his £30m price-tag, the left-back was out of favour for a long time before earning his place in the team after months in the wilderness. But his continued struggles with injury and fitness and some really mixed performances leave Shaw with a long way to go before he makes it at Old Trafford. 3 Getty Manchester United season player ratings Jonny Evans Entered the season as the club's senior centre-back but his poor performances proved that he needs a leader next to him, Evans is not cut out for that role. One of the players who could be heading for the exit as Van Gaal looks to upgrade at the back. 3 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Paddy McNair Started as many games as Evans (12) and despite some up and down showings, has plenty of potential at just 20-year-old. 5.5 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Marcos Rojo Asked to play in a variety of positions the no-nonsense Argentina international has become a favourite amongst United fans. Always an A+ for effort, even if is slightly below being truly top quality. 7 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Tyler Blackett Like McNair was thrust into the first-team but struggled to hold down a place after Van Gaal ditched his 3-5-2 formation. Still only 21, Blackett has the athletic gifts to become a solid Premier League player. 4 AFP/Getty Manchester United season player ratings Phil Jones Phil Jones is decent but he's no Jaap Stam, Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand. He's too clumsy in possession and too reliant on his athleticism. United must upgrade their defence and find somebody better than the England man. 6 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Chris Smalling A really pleasant surprise this season has been the development of Smalling, who has become much more assured on the ball and a vocal leader of the defence. Always had the defensive nous and athletic gifts but is adding other parts to his game. 7.5 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Antonio Valencia Has had to play out of position for much of the season and done a good job in tough circumstances. But every United fan will know that Valencia shouldn't have a future in the position. 7.5 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings MIDFIELDERS: Daley Blind Played in just about every position in defence and midfield this season and did a solid job in all of them. A great player to have in a squad, Blind's best position may well be at left-back. A Van Gaal favourite and for good reason. 7.5 Manchester United season player ratings Ander Herrera After months of sitting and watching on the sidelines, Herrera took the Premier League by storm in the second half of the season and became one of the better central midfielders in the division. Has no real weakness in his game. He has an eye for goal, is a great reader of the game, excellent in possession and is willing to do the hard graft. Should get even better next season 8.5 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Michael Carrick Manchester United are much, much, much better with Carrick in the team - they won 12 of the 16 matches he started this season in the Premier League and easily played their best football. But therein lies the problem, Carrick failing to start the other 22 matches. 7 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Darren Fletcher Sold in January, the Scottish midfielder returned from injury at the start of the season far removed from his previous self, unsurprisingly. 3 Manchester United season player ratings Juan Mata Another who was out of favour under Van Gaal before proving his worth, Mata enjoyed some brilliant highs and frustrating lows. Has unmatched quality but is still seen as a defensive weakness against strong opposition. Still, United are a much bigger attacking threat with the Spaniard in the side. 8 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Ashley Young A revelation under Van Gaal, the winger has enjoyed his best season since arriving at the club, putting himself back in the mix for an England call up. Whether playing as a wing back or a more traditional winger, Young has been a consistent threat from the left. 8.5 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Adnan Januzaj Hailed as the club's saviour under David Moyes, Januzaj has been absolutely awful this season, starting just seven Premier League matches and failing to record a goal or assist. Has a deserved reputation as a diver as well. 2 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Angel Di Maria His struggles are well documented. £60m will bring a certain level of expectation and although Di Maria started promisingly, that quickly disappeared. Van Gaal wants to keep him but it wouldn't be a surprise if he left the club this summer. 3 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Marouane Fellaini United fans still haven't taken to the big Belgian despite some match-winning performances. He's uncouth style isn't really in keeping with the traditions of the club and United have to play to his strengths when he's in the team. Still, he scored some important goals this season. 7 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings STRIKERS: James Wilson The teenager showed some promise and calmness in front of goal in limited minutes this season. Not yet ready for the first XI, he'd benefit from a couple of loan spells. 5 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Radamel Falcao A complete flop. It's hard not to feel a twinge of sympathy for a striker who is clearly trying hard but lacking confidence and fitness. United's ponderous play didn't always help him, but he missed some sitters along the way. Will probably score a bucket load of goals next year for someone else. 2 GETTY IMAGES Manchester United season player ratings Robin van Persie Started the season as Van Gaal's captain and main man and seems to be ending it heading for the exit. Injuries didn't help but United were always more potent when Wayne Rooney was leading the line. 4 Getty Images Manchester United season player ratings Wayne Rooney Proved just how good he was as a striker when he was finally allowed to play there after a prolonged spell in midfield. He did OK in a deeper role, but the side loses so much with Rooney out of the danger area. Van Gaal must build his team for next season around Rooney as his main main up front. 8.5 GETTY IMAGES

The 29-year-old was also full of praise for Van Gaal in his first season in English football after replacing David Moyes and, while he was disappointed not to win any silverware, Rooney was philosophical about the campaign and glad the club got "back where it belongs".

"You have to realise that at the start of the season we had a new manager, new coaches and a lot of new players, so it was always going to be a tough ask for us to go and win the Premier League," he said.

"It was a bit disappointing not to win any silverware, especially the FA Cup after the defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals, we had a great chance of going on to win that.

"After last season it would have been a disaster if we didn't get that Champions League spot, but the main thing is that the club is now back where it belongs."