Manchester United “have other areas to strengthen” this transfer window as they continue their pursuit of midfield recruits, says The Devils’ Advocate podcast co-host Gaz Drinkwater.

Manchester City secured United’s top target Elliot Anderson at the start of the window, they were unwilling to match Tottenham’s bid for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and, most recently, their move for Atalanta’s Ederson collapsed after his medical despite agreeing a deal for the Brazilian at the beginning of June.

Now the club have signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea and are closing in on a deal for Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans, but Drinkwater believes United need to be putting their focus elsewhere.

“Left-back is a big one. Luke Shaw did very well last season and if he has the same season again then we don’t need a left-back – but he’s not going to, is he? And I’m not sure about his back-up,” he said on the latest episode of the BBC Radio Manchester podcast.

“We don’t actually have a left-winger unless Marcus Rashford is staying so maybe we keep Rashford, even though he’s on a lot of money.

“And a centre-back has to come in because how long is Matthijs de Ligt going to be out for? So, if Rashford were to go, we need a left-winger, a centre-back and a left-back. Then we might be cooking.”

Listen to the full episode of The Devils’ Advocate on BBC Sounds