​Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has revealed his summer transfer plans, with a new defensive midfielder his highest priority.





Speaking with the ​club's official website, the Dutch boss said, "No.6 is a key player, yes. I have more key roles – the no.6 is just one of those key roles. You have seen this season, for example, because Michael Carrick is injured and I don't have another, I have to play with Ander Herrera there. He did it very well, but it is not his specialty.





Louis van Gaal has been discussing #mufc's transfer plans for this summer: http://t.co/agRWmB9WKc pic.twitter.com/R4DszJdNyh — Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 22, 2015





"I have played Wayne Rooney there also, but it is not his favoured position. I had to do this because I don't have another right-footed holding midfielder like Carrick. That is why it is a key role, but I cannot discuss other positions because then I show too much."





As van Gaal mentioned, Wayne Rooney has spent part of the season in that role, as a result of injuries sustained to regular holding midfielder Michael Carrick. The England captain has been a striker for the majority of his career, but has been used in a deeper position more and more over the past few years.









The former Netherlands manager was full of praise for the 29-year-old, "He's a very good captain, I am very proud. I don't have any disappointment this year with him. He's great in the dressing room and an example on the training pitch.





"When we play a match he shall always fight until the end. He has played a lot of positions for me, without complaining. That's also what I like in Ashley Young, who has also played a lot of positions at a high level. I like multi-functional players as they offer you more that the team needs than other players.





Louis van Gaal says Man United need a holding midfielder. Will it be Gundogan? Schweinsteiger? http://t.co/tPN6Cyp2uJ pic.twitter.com/3t3y0EWAmn — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 23, 2015





"I think I have made a very good decision [making Rooney captain] and you can also see in the way we have played. I think that we have fought 99% of our matches until the end. The team spirit was great."





The likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Bastian Schweinsteiger have already been linked with a move to Old Trafford, as van Gaal seeks to find his man.





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