On Thursday, Van Gaal is likely to be presented to the media in a press conference at Old Trafford and on Friday, they will all be jetting off for four glamorous pre-season assignments in the United States.

It will mark the culmination of an extraordinary two months for Van Gaal and after first flying out from Amsterdam to Brazil for the World Cup eights weeks ago, the globe-trotting Dutchman will have clocked up just short of 50,000km by the time United return to Carrington on August 3.

Van Gaal, remember, bristled at suggestions that he needed a holiday after the World Cup, determined to immediately take up office at Old Trafford.

That decision is quite understandable. After all, he will have only 32 more sleeps before his new side begin their Premier League campaign against Swansea at Old Trafford.

Nonetheless, having travelled the length and breadth of Brazil, he now heads back across the Atlantic on a non-stop tour of the USA, beginning on the West Coast in Los Angeles and culminating in Michigan.

In and amongst a cacophony of commercial activities that will inevitably punctuate United’s trip, Van Gaal must resolve a series of headaches in the coming month.

Here, Sportsmail assesses his in-tray and the major decisions that must be made. Once he’s rummaged his way through this to-do list, Van Gaal may find himself yearning for a sun lounger and a holiday after all...

1. Add three more players in the transfer window (including two defenders)

After the departures of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and, in the coming days, Patrice Evra, United are desperately in need of reinforcements in the defensive positions. Van Gaal is keen to bring in two defenders before the transfer window closes.

Thomas Vermaelen of Arsenal remains a prime target and the player remains hopeful of completing a move to Old Trafford, with a wage package understood to have been agreed in principle some time ago. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, however, is proving a stumbling block.

2. Cleanse the squad of the debris

United officials have been informed that Van Gaal prefers to work with a squad of around 23 players, which means that several will have to be offloaded.

There is a feeling at Old Trafford that United have opted for quantity over quality in recent years and Van Gaal is keen to slimline his bloated squad. Uncertainty hangs over the future of Nani, Ashley Young, Wilfried Zaha, Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez.

3. Appoint a captain
The narrative of the battle for supremacy between Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie has occupied too many pages of newsprint for United’s liking in recent times.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Van Persie was king. When Moyes arrived, Rooney was the blue-eyed boy, restored to the central position and signing a new five-year contract. Van Gaal needs them both on side if United are to return to the top 4 and challenge for the Premier League title.

The captaincy is vacant following the exit of Nemanja Vidic and vice-captains Evra, Ferdinand and Giggs, with Rooney and Van Persie the prime candidates to assume responsibilities.







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