Manchester United chief executive David Gill confirms he is set to meet Sir Alex Ferguson to discuss transfer targets

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has confirmed he will sit down with Sir Alex Ferguson and discuss the possibility of strengthening the squad when the club return from their pre-season tour of the US.

United have already splashed out over €57 million on bringing David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young to Old Trafford this summer, but speculation is rife Sir Alex remains on the lookout for a midfield playmaker to replace the retired Paul Scholes.

Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric and Samir Nasri have all been touted as possible targets, although it is the rumours linking Inter’s Dutch midfielder with a move to Manchester which have proved the most persistent.

Gill told reporters: 'When we get back from [the] tour, we will be in the office and we will sit down and assess it with Sir Alex and his coaches.

'I don't want to talk about specifics, but it's clear to say that in order to get into the United team you have to be a top-class player.'

Gill also took the opportunity to warn Fifa to remember the top clubs who supply the players before green-lighting any proposals for additional international friendly dates.

Next week Premier League clubs will have to part with their players for international friendlies a matter of days before the league campaign gets underway, with two further international dates to come before the turn of the year.

Yet despite the already cramped calendar, Fifa president Sepp Blatter has angered top clubs by suggesting more international friendly dates could be added.

'Clearly it hasn't been a good year for Fifa,' he added. 'No-one could say it has.

'The calendar is wider than just the European situation but it is clear, we provide the players. We are a key part of the game.

'The Champions League is one of the top competitions in world football. We are producing the product. Everyone has to understand that.'