Manchester United has identified the holding midfield position as the key area that needs to improve this summer.

United have been strongly linked with moves for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger in recent weeks, with the deep lying midfield role a problem position.

Wayne Rooney has been deployed in the role at times, as well as Ander Herrera and Daley Blind.

"The No. 6 is one of the key roles," Louis van Gaal told Sunday newspaper reporters, as he referred to a defensive midfielder. "We have seen this season, with Michael Carrick, that he has spent a lot of time injured.

"I don't have another right-footed player who can play there so I have had to use Herrera there. He has done it very well, but it isn't his specialist position. I've also played Rooney there. It isn't his favourite position but I have had to use him in that role.

"So it is a key role but I can't discuss it further because then I show too much."