Manchester United are in the market to sign a new central defender admits Louis van Gaal.

United have been linked with a host of defenders throughout the course of the summer but are yet to make any central defensive moves.

Now with the end of the transfer window fast approaching, United are expected to accelerate their pursuit of a centre-half and manager van Gaal has admitted that the Red Devils are likely to bring in someone this month if they can identify someone better than what they have already.

Speaking to the reporters, van Gaal said: "We have three (right-sided) centre backs, we have (Chris) Smalling, (Phil) Jones and (Paddy) McNair but if he is much better than them then it is possible. We go for the best players and it has to be possible."

Van Gaal also touched on the reason he started Smalling alongside Daley Blind after Jones had been used in central defence all pre-season.

"(Jones' injury) was very peculiar because he had the whole week tightness in his calf and he kept training but we have a very good doctor I think because this doctor discovered a minor thrombosis," he added.

"We don't take the risk so we go to a second opinion to a specialist in the hospital and that was yesterday. That was after my press conference so I couldn't say anything. A specialist has said we have a new medical treatment and we have to keep him out for three weeks and we have to watch him."