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Marouane Fellaini has told Louis van Gaal he can be the midfield enforcer Manchester United are searching for this summer.

The Belgian international was an unexpected success last season - largely deployed in attack.

But he is convinced his best position is in a holding role - and claims he can solve what has been a problem area for Van Gaal.

“I see myself as a defensive midfielder,” he said. “I feel comfortable playing there and if the manager decides he wants to play me there, I will.

“At the moment I play more up front, so it’s good for me.

“I score goals so in football it’s important.

“I’m happy to play there and win some important games.”

United have made signing a dominant midfield a priority this summer.

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Van Gaal will be handed £150m to turn turn his squad into genuine title challengers - and he believes key to that will be securing adequate cover for Michael Carrick.

The Dutchman has drawn up a list of targets including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Radja Nainggolan and Kevin Strootman and becoming concerned by United’s over-reliance on Carrick, who missed long periods of last season due to injury.

Such were his lack of options in that position that Wayne Rooney was even reverted from striker to holding midfielder.

Van Gaal doesn’t want a repeat of that next season - recognising Rooney’s importance to a United attack that managed only 62 goals in the Premier League - 21 less than leading scorers Manchester City.

While he achieved his minimum target of a return to the Champions League in his first year in charge, but is expected to compete for silverware next term.

And Fellaini believes United will be well-placed to challenge Chelsea after a year under the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

“Now we know how we work, his philosophy, how we have to play, how we have to think,” he told Goal. “So that’s why we won a lot of games in the last few months.

“Of course we can catch Chelsea.

“We have the quality, I think we will sign some new players, so why not? We have to.”

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Gareth Bale is one man United are keen to bring to Old Trafford, with the Real Madrid winger’s future in doubt at the Bernabeu.

Fellaini added: “He’s a great player. Everyone in England knows his quality because he played for Tottenham and he had a great season.

“But now he’s in Madrid, we will see at the end of the season.”