Manchester United are targeting a specialist midfield signing for the January market.

The Manchester Evening News says United are prepared to move for a holding midfielder in the January transfer window.

Figures at United were in agreement in the summer the midfield had to be prioritised next year and the club is prepared to back interim manager Ralf Rangnick in the new year.

United's midfield deficiencies were exposed time and again during the last months of former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign and the Norwegian used seven different midfield combinations.

Rangnick's preference for a 'double six' - two holding midfielders - gives the German a compelling case for mid-season investment, provided the ideal profile of player is available.

RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara, formerly of Red Bull Salzburg, has become of interest to United due to Rangnick's eight-year stint as sporting director of the Red Bull group but Haidara is due to be on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Mali next month.