Manchester United transfer news: Red Devils 'looking to strengthen spine all the way' says Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs has revealed that Manchester United are looking to strengthen in all areas in the summer transfer window.

The Welshman is the assistant to Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal and the duo helped the Red Devils finish in the top four after a disappointing season under David Moyes a year earlier. Chelsea won the league comfortably during the 2014-15 season.

United finished behind Manchester City and Arsenal, who finished second and third respectively. The 20-times English champions were not consistent in Van Gaal's first year reign at Old Trafford.

Giggs claims United are looking to bring in "proven" players, as they look to bolster the squad to challenge for the title next term.

"If there are players available who are winners, who are proven, then, yeah, let's go and get them. And with any good team the spine is important. Midfield, striker, centre-backs, goalkeeper. I'm sure we'll be looking to strengthen the spine all the way through," Giggs told the Sunday Times.

"We obviously need to strengthen because we were fourth. We weren't first, second or third. And the teams above us will strengthen, too. There's the added challenge of the Champions League, and we need players that are going to improve us.

"But we're not too far away. We had a great record last season in the big games and the problem was the consistency. We dropped points we shouldn't have and got off to a bad start.

"We drew a lot of games away from home against teams we should have been beating. You tot up the games you think you should have won and think, 'Yeah, we should have been much closer' - but you have to go out and do it, and in the Premier League that's not easy," he added.

United already signed Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch international was the top scorer in the Eredivisie as he helped his former club win the league title. Giggs is delighted with Depay's record of goals scored from free kicks.

"One thing we probably have lacked since Cristiano [Ronaldo] - and Becks [David Beckham] before him - is free kicks," the United assistant manager said.

"And it looks like Depay has a great track record from free kicks as well. Over a season, if you can score more from free kicks and corners it adds up and makes a real difference in winning games. So, no pressure ... but hopefully he'll score 10 free kicks every year."

"Old Trafford is the right stage for a player like him. Because if you try things that don't come off the fans will stay behind you. You're at a club where they want you to do things off the cuff, to entertain them," Giggs concluded.