Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has warned the club that Mats Hummels is not the type of defender that the club needs to sign in the summer.

It is widely expected that Louis van Gaal will move to bolster his defensive ranks, with Borussia Dortmund centre-back Hummels a reported target.

However, Hargreaves believes that the 26-year-old's style is not what Van Gaal requires and has instead identified Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng as the ideal candidate.

"He's a ball player, but he's not the quickest and if you're going to be high up the pitch, he's not the quickest turner and I think he could get exposed," Hargreaves, who made 39 appearances for United, told BT Sport.

"Teams are going to be after him, but you've got to look at it and consider what you need. How is he going to fit in? I think Man United need a powerful defender - a Boateng-esque player, who is very physical and very aggressive and that is definitely not Hummels."

It has been suggested that German World Cup-winner Hummels would cost potential suitors £35m.