Manchester United are not shy to spend heavily in the transfer market - and the Reds will be on the hunt for a central midfielder this summer.

Jose Mourinho's midfield has been found out in recent Premier League defeats away at Tottenham and Newcastle.

"The big concern would be the last two away performances [Spurs and Newcastle]," said Alan Shearer on Match of the Day.

"Pogba and Matic have been bossed by Dier, Dembele, Diame and Shelvey. That should be a big concern for the Man United manager."

Paul Pogba cost United a club-record £89m in 2016 but the 24-year-old Frenchman seems unable to function in a deeper role.

Michael Carrick is in his twelfth season at Old Trafford but the defensive midfielder - who has played 25 minutes of Premier League football all season - recently announced his impending retirement.

The 36-year-old England international will hang up his boots at the end of the season and the search for his replacement is well and truly underway.

United identify Carrick's successor

According to the Independent, Man United have identified Real Madrid's Toni Kroos as their ideal summer signing.

Louis van Gaal, who handed Kroos his debut at Bayern Munich, reportedly came close to signing him for United in 2014 but he joined Real Madrid instead.

Mourinho wants to play Kroos in a midfield three alongside Pogba and Matic, as per the Independent.

The 28-year-old German has been a first team regular at the Santiago Bernabeu since joining from Bayern in 2014.

However, Real Madrid - who find themselves fourth in La Liga - are expected to sell some big-name players in order to buy a huge star in the summer.

Weigl second-choice

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl is also a target but it's understood that Mourinho would prefer the Real Madrid star.

The 22-year-old German has become has been a first-team regular in Dortmund since signing from 1860 Munchen in 2015 - but United fans would surely prefer to see Kroos lining up at Old Trafford.

Mourinho recently confirmed that United want to sign a replacement for Carrick, who may join the coaching staff.

“We need to sign a midfield player,” Mourinho admitted on Friday. “Because we are going to lose Michael Carrick. Of course, we need balance in the team.

“Some of you [the media] keep saying that we are going to buy that striker, that winger, that left winger, that right winger.

“You can accuse me of many things, but you cannot say that I lied to you. When I don’t want to say things, I don’t say [them]. But I don’t take you in other directions. We are looking and we are going to try to sign a midfield player.”

Will the Red Devils be able to land Kroos? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment belowl