Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal hints he will continue to use Daley Blind at centre half

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says Daley Blind could become a regular centre half next season.

Blind, 25, played in a number of different roles for Ajax and the Netherlands before making the move to Old Trafford last summer, where he was deployed in both midfield and defence.

The Dutch international featured as a holding midfielder for the first half of the season but was used at left-back during the club's most impressive period of form, when Louis van Gaal's side recorded wins against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City in March and April.

Blind, however, slotted in alongside Phil Jones at centre half in United's first pre-season game of the season, a 1-0 win over Club America on 18 July. And given Van Gaal's penchant for using a left-footed player in his defence and the club's much-improved options in central midfield, the Dutchman could have a permanent role at the back in the 2015-16 season.

Asked whether Blind would play more games at centre-back next season, Van Gaal was quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News: "It could be, it could be.

"Marcos Rojo is not here, he shall come on 25 July. I want to play always with a left-footed central defender and he can do the job. Maybe he shall play. But other players can play there.

"Last year I played with Jones and [Chris] Smalling in that position. Even [Paddy] McNair has played there. But my preference is always a left-footed central defender.

"In Rojo and Blind, we have two players who can play there."

United remain heavily linked with moves for centre halves Sergio Ramos and Nicolas Otamendi, but Van Gaal was left purring with the performance from his defence in their win in Seattle.

"I wanted to see our defensive organisation that was the main aspect.

"We don't give any goals away and only one or two chances so I'm satisfied about that.

"We played like a team and Club America was very handy with the ball, very aggressive, very quick so it was not so easy.

"All the players have a function that we have given them to do. I'm happy and satisfied."