Owen Hargreaves believes Manchester United must recruit a world-class centre-back and a midfield partner for Paul Pogba when the summer transfer window opens.
United's appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the club's permanent manager last week triggered an escalation in squad planning for next season.
The Reds bounced back from consecutive defeats with their 2-1 victory against Watford in the Premier League on Saturday but did so in unconvincing fashion, with their lethargic showing highlighting the requirement for acquisitions in the summer.
Jose Mourinho was aggrieved by the club's failure to land a centre-back last summer before his sacking in December and Hargreaves, who won the Premier League and Champions League double at Old Trafford, feels the area remains a pressing concern.
“They need a world class centre-back, that’s for sure," the former England midfielder told BT Sport.
Solskjaer was quick to play down speculation linking Paul Pogba with a move to Real Madrid in the summer, after Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was effusive in his praise for the France international on Friday.
"I know him personally," Zidane said. "He brings so much and there are few players who bring as much as he does."
Solskjaer responded on Monday by affirming that Pogba was at the centre of his plans, and Hargreaves said United need to bring the best out of the 26-year-old going forward.
“They need somebody alongside [Paul] Pogba like [N’Golo] Kante like they have with France," he explained. "They need someone in that mould to play next to Pogba.”
