Louis van Gaal refused to comment on Danny Welbeck’s future as speculation mounts the England striker is set to leave Manchester United.

Press Association Sport reported that Welbeck, who joined United in 2007, has been told he can depart Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old started the majority of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, but he is unlikely to jump ahead of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in the pecking order, and is therefore free to go.

In a heated press conference at the club’s training ground, Van Gaal refused to confirm or deny the story, but the new United manager admitted he was angry that details of a private conversation he held with Welbeck had been leaked.

Van Gaal said: “The media were not in the room and I do not speak about that because that’s private.

“I know what I said to Danny and Danny knows exactly what I said to him.

“I assume that Danny Welbeck is not saying anything about our conversation and also in that conversation was (assistant manager) Ryan Giggs and he doesn’t say (anything) either, and that is the way it should be.”

The decision to allow Welbeck, a local boy who worked his way through the ranks at Old Trafford, to go will come as a surprise to some United fans, particularly as Van Gaal does not have a strong selection of strikers to choose from.

Javier Hernandez is the only other senior striker available to the Dutchman, and he has been linked with a move away from the club.

Van Gaal is determined to streamline his squad though, and it is understood that up to 12 players have been informed they could leave.