Danny Higginbotham has expressed doubt over whether Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan are the players that Manchester United should be looking to sign this summer.

Among Louis van Gaal's list of transfer targets is thought to be a centre-back and a central midfielder, with the Borussia Dortmund duo reportedly of interest to the Dutchman.

However, with regards to Hummels, Higginbotham has told Sports Mole that United need a different type of defender to complement the likes of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo.

"Hummels is a good player, but am I convinced he is what United need when considering the other centre-backs that they've got? Not overly. With his style, he likes to get the ball and play out from the back," said the former United full-back.

"What United need is a Nemanja Vidic-type centre-back. You look at the majority of partnerships throughout the pitch - they're always opposites. At centre-back, you have one that puts their head in where others wouldn't put their feet and you'd have another one that's more technically gifted - just like Rio Ferdinand and Vidic and Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister.

"Do I think that Hummels is a good player? Yes. But would he complement the centre-backs that are already at Man United? That's difficult to answer because I'm not sure that he would."

As for Gundogan, Dortmund recently confirmed that the 24-year-old would be on the move at the end of the season.

United are said to have expressed an interest in the midfielder, but just as with Hummels, Higginbotham believes that Van Gaal would be better off turning his attention elsewhere.

"He's been out injured and it's a tough one. Would you play him and Michael Carrick together? Because Carrick is vital for that team. Gundogan seems to be quite a defensive midfielder as well and likes to be in a two in front of the back four," added the 36-year-old.

"If you're going to play with Carrick, you want a [Cesc] Fabregas-type - someone that is going to break forward.

"There's no doubting that both [Hummels and Gundogan are] good players, but it comes down to how you match them up with their partner."

As well as the Dortmund pair, the Red Devils have also been linked with the likes of Gareth Bale, Memphis Depay and Aymeric Laporte.

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