Gary Neville has told talkSPORT that Manchester United have overpaid for players this summer and finds the decision to sell Danny Welbeck to Arsenal for 16 million pounds "strange."
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Van Gaal, who has yet to win a competitive game with United, was allowed to spend over 150 million pounds on Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo this summer.
"In one sense I am excited because they have signed world-class players," said Neville, who retired in 2011 after making 400 appearances for United in the league. "People jumped on the bandwagon last year and said they wouldn't attract players.
"They have a massive commercial operation. They have overpaid, there is no doubt about that, but people will still go there. Now Louis van Gaal has to mould them into a team.
"He asked for three months but I doubt he expected to see what's happened at the start of the season. Preseason probably lulled him into a false sense of security. They have to get the performances right.
"Falcao tipped them over the edge -- it surprised and shocked everyone. How he [Van Gaal] gets them in that team I don't know. How they get Rooney, Di Maria, Van Persie, Falcao, Herrera, Januzaj and Mata into that team I don't know."
Neville's remarks came after the club announced record annual revenue of 433.2 million pounds despite a disastrous 2013-14 season under David Moyes in which they finished seventh and missed out on European football.
While United have made a profit, the club has received criticism for the way it has conducted its transfer business, with former asssistant coach Mike Phelan claiming the sale of homegrown players such as Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley caused United to lose their identity.
Van Gaal's assistant Ryan Giggs does not agree with that assessment, but Neville echoed comments made by his brother, Phil, as he expressed surprise at the sale of Welbeck to a top-four rival.
"I can't work it out and I know I worked with Danny Welbeck last week, but it's odd," Neville, who now works as part of England's coaching staff, said. "I have to admit I thought the Danny Welbeck sale was a strange one, but that's just me.
"Of all the prices paid this summer, there are right-backs and left-backs galore who have been bought for 14 million, 15 million, 16 million? How have Arsenal got him for 16 million? I can't work it out. It has helped out a competitor because Arsenal are the team they are fighting for fourth. I am struggling to work out the logic, I can't understand it."
United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has warned that, after the club's outlay this summer, he is not expecting to spend big in January.