Three midfielders who could be Manchester United's ideal next signing

No matter who becomes the next permanent manager of Manchester United this summer, they will have an obvious task to solve in the transfer window; sign a new midfielder.

United are overdue for fresh investment in the centre of the park and head into a window which will likely see Paul Pogba leave on a free, while fringe player Donny van de Beek could also consider his future after a disappointing loan spell with Everton.

It means United could well need more than one new midfielder come the end of the campaign, but the issue of who those players should be continues to divide the fanbase. Whoever it is, they need to be able to add steel to the base of the United midfield while also possessing silky passing ability to start moves from deep. It won't be an easy task to marry the two traits.

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The Manchester Evening News United writers took a look at finding a solution and couldn't agree on who it should be.

Tyrone Marshall

It felt like a successful transfer window for United last summer, but there was always a nagging feeling that they needed a central midfielder, and that has been proven right this season. In fact, they probably need at least a couple of midfielders, but the priority should be someone who can play a little deeper.

Declan Rice fits the bill, but United's total collapse this season and their likely absence from the Champions League is going to make doing deals a little trickier. Rice has admirers at Chelsea, but their current issues could play into United's hands, and he looked like the best midfielder on the pitch at Old Trafford recently.

United should also be doing all they can to sign Jude Bellingham, but it's