Louis van Gaal has revealed that Manchester United's scouts have been watching potential summer signings as well as players currently out on loan since the team started their preparations for next season in January.

The Old Trafford side have been linked with a string of players as the end of the current campaign approaches, including PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay and Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne.

The manager told the club's website: "Already in January [we began thinking about next season] because we have to prepare our pre-season and Manchester United will go to America.

"We also think about the scouting of players, the scouting of our own players because we have a lot on loan and then we have to analyse their performances, so it's a lot of work. It's not only the present season but also what we have to decide for players next season."

Javier Hernandez, Nani and Jesse Lingard are among the United players currently out on loan.