Luiz Cisse, I like that. When we have a chance to keep him playing regularly, he will be an asset on and off the field.”

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal insisted the winger will not be sold – no matter who else is sold in the summer.

He told the Press Association: “I think it will all be sorted. We would have done a lot better to keep him if he wasn’t from Germany, but he hasn’t had any chances in United’s first team.

“The club are going to have to go elsewhere. The squad is very strong and I don’t need to worry about that, but we are not a big club, so we have to make a few decisions that won’t necessarily solve everything on a player.

“The player and his family were great. I was impressed. I’ve said it many times, I’ve always trusted him, and as a player he’s proven to be of great help.”

Rafael van der Vaart, who has struggled to recover from a knee injury suffered at the end of last season, is in discussions to return to Ajax.

Van Gaal said: “We’ll see what happens. He’s a fantastic player and now that has an opportunity to come back and get into the starting XI.”

He added: “I’ll send a message to Robin van Persie later about the team but it won’t affect the transfer.”

Meanwhile, United will have to meet UEFA’s financial fair play rules when signing their replacement.

The club signed defender Michael Keane for £11m earlier this month.

Van Gaal explained: “I don’t have specific requirements about an expensive player in the first place – I would rather do negotiations with a club.

“I have to use my discretion. But with Keane I have to meet certain conditions to reach an agreement.”

Speaking earlier this month, he said the rules are “unreasonable”, adding: “I don’t like it in football, but it is the law.”

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