Former Scotland international Pat Nevin believes that Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal should look north of the border towards Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk as he plots to solve his defensive woes.

The Red Devils boss is expected to add to his £150m+ summer spend in January with a top class central defender after watching his side make a terrible start to the Premier League season – which was capped with a 5-3 loss at newly promoted Leicester over the weekend.

With Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand having been allowed to leave during the last window United are woefully short on top class cover at the heart of their backline, with youngster Tyler Blackett having been made a key member of the starting XI despite making his first start for the club a matter of months ago.

WANT MORE? >> Manchester United transfer news | Latest transfer news

And Nevin believes that all of their defensive issues could solved with the purchase of Celtic’s Van Dijk:

“There is no doubt whatsoever that they need another major centre-half who was powerful, and preferably one who can play from the back,” he is quoted by the Daily Star.

“I’m almost describing to a tee a player like Van Dijk, who is playing for Celtic at the moment.

“If I was Manchester United, and Celtic fans wouldn’t thank me for it, I’d be on the phone and get Van Dijk down to Manchester United. He is absolutely nailed on to be a player who could have done the job.

“Even if it was for a short period of a year or two, before they got someone who is world class. You never know, Van Dijk could have grown into that.”

Van Dijk has been impressive for the Bhoys since his 2013 move from Groningen in his homeland, and has been linked with several moves to Premier League sides.

[ffcvideo file=”TopFiveVideosoftheWeek” type=”mp4″]

[ad_pod id=’fr2rumours’ align=’center’]