Rooney knows where Man Utd will be looking to strengthen in summer

Wayne Rooney believes Jose Mourinho’s priority in the summer transfer window will be to find a midfield destroyer.

Manchester United are likely to be short of midfield options in the summer with Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick poised to leave.

Fellaini will be out of contract and there have been no signs yet that the big Belgian will pen a new deal at Old Trafford despite Mourinho recently urging him to “shut up and sign up”.

Carrick will take up a coaching role at the end of the season, while Juan Mata and Ander Herrera do not have the physicality to hold the middle of the park alongside Nemanja Matic, while Paul Pogba enjoys a free role.

Mourinho has stated that strengthening his forward line is not his priority now after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez and he is now likely to pursue a midfielder how can sit in alongside Matic, according to former United skipper Rooney.

 

“For me Pogba is a classic box to box player, he can do a bit of everything really well,” Rooney told Monday Night Football. “If he has that freedom where he doesn’t have to think about defending then he can cause mayhem for teams, he’s so talented.

“At Juventus he had (Andrea) Pirlo alongside him and I think with Nemanja Matic and one other it will suit him better in a three.”

Pogba, United’s record £89million signing from Juventus in the summer of 2016, has probably been their best player this season, but he has yet to fulfill the huge potential he has.

During his time a Juve the 24-year-old was almost unplayable alongside Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal – a player who has been linked with United.