Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is responsible for sealing the signatures of new players, not him.

Woodward, who replaced long-standing chief executive David Gill last summer following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, has been criticised for his conduct over the last few transfer windows.

Marouane Fellaini was the only major signing to arrive at Old Trafford under former manager David Moyes last summer, but Juan Mata was added to the ranks from Chelsea in January.

This summer, United have secured the signatures of Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Angel di Maria so far, but Woodward has been criticised yet again for not getting new recruits quickly.

"Of course I shall say what players I want and what players are better to leave and Ed Woodward is doing the transfer market so I don't interfere in that process," Van Gaal said in his weekly press conference. "I am on the sportive side, he is the side to sell or to buy."

Clubs have just three days to complete their transfer business before the window shuts.