Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says a "number 6" type of player will be his main priority during the summer transfer window.
The Dutchman had to improvise in midfield after key players suffered injuries with striker Wayne Rooney deployed in midfield last month after injuries to Michael Carrick and Daley Blind.
"No.6 is a key player, yes. I have more key roles – the no.6 is just one of those key roles," van Gaal is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"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 speciality.
"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."
Meanwhile, van Gaal insists he wants to sign players early so as to prepare next season without any additional pressure.
"That is why it is a key role, but I cannot discuss other positions because then I show too much," he added.
"It [the summer transfer window] is always ending on 31 August, which, in my opinion, is ridiculous. I have many times strived to change the transfer window because it has to be out of the competition.
"You have to be finished before your prepare your team for the season.
"Last year we had the World Cup and a lot of players came in later. We made a lot of purchases at the last moment, on 31 August, so we had to prepare our team in the Premier League and that cost us a lot of points.
"That's the difference with other teams. I hope we shall finish that much earlier."
