Manchester United's Phil Jones believes he can make Louis van Gaal end his search for a new centre-back by proving his worth to the club, Daily Star reports.

It has been known that United are currently in the market to sign a few new defenders since the departures of both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic with Van Gaal already naming a few candidates.

WANT MORE? >> Manchester United Transfer News | Latest Transfer News

"Of course, proving I'm good enough to replace Rio ad Nemanja is ultimately what I want to be doing," he said.

"You've got to thrive on the challenge rather than be daunted by it. We've lost two great defenders in Rio and Nemanja but that's football and we move on. We've got good players to replace them and hopefully we can all step up and improve that. If we all stay fit we've got a great chance. That's what we aim to do."

With the new boss reverting to a 3-man back line in his first match, Jones believes he can link up with Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans to provide adequate cover.

"The gaffer told us straight away how he wants us to play this season," he added. "It's a learning process but we're all pulling in the right direction. The lads have been brilliant in training.

"Three at the back is the way we set up against Galaxy with Luke (Shaw) and Antonio (Valencia) as wing-backs. And it worked. It's the first time I've played that way and it'll be a learning process but we're getting used to it. Day by day we're getting better and we'll be ready for the start of the season."

The side is known to be targeting the likes of Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels, Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen, and Feyenoord's Stefan De Vrij to provide some extra protection for David de Gea.

 

[ad_pod id='ricco' align='center']