Arsenal's Arsene Wenger backs Louis van Gaal for Man Utd title challenge

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes Louis van Gaal will transform Manchester United into Premier League title challengers after a season in the wilderness.

15:31, Sat, Jul 12, 2014

Louis van Gaal Louis van Gaal will leave Holland after tonight's World Cup third-place playoff[GETTY]

Van Gaal will arrive in Manchester next week once his World Cup duties with Holland are over and is expected to make an immediate impact at Old Trafford following United's sixth-place finish last season.

United have already spent £56million this summer on midfielder Ander Herrera and left-back Luke Shaw, while Van Gaal has lined up a number of Dutch stars to follow him to Manchester.

And Wenger, who for 17 seasons went head to head with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, reckons the Dutchman's arrival will make next term a five-horse title race.

Netherlands can still make history - Van Gaal

"He is going to be a fantastic manager in the Premier League," Wenger told beIN Sports.

"I liked how the decisions he made were clear, how the timing of his decisions were always right and in my opinion it was the right decision every time.

"I am sure that Manchester United will be competitors this year for the championship and that will be more interesting.

"Because he can beat maybe Arsenal but then he might lose to Chelsea, then you've got Manchester City as well as Liverpool. So yes, it's going to be an interesting league."

Wenger has also parted with big bucks this summer, with the arrival of Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez for £30m confirmed earlier this week.