The former defender believes the player's signing is not a priority for the English club.

Ex-Manchester United captain Nemanja Matic has advised the club to forget about signing Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld and, instead, focus on the strengthening its midfield. The Belgian defender has been on the radar of the Red Devils for a while and has been tipped for a potential transfer this summer.

Aged 30, Alderweireld – who has a £26million release clause in his contract – has been integral to the plans of Mauricio Pochettino this season. In an interview with Sky Sports while on international duty with Belgium, the defender left the door open on a potential move in the summer.

" There's a lot to play for this season. And in the end, I have a year contract left at Spurs, so I don't look further than this season.

"Other things I don't know. I am very happy at Spurs, so we will see what the future brings.

"So as I said, I am very happy and I just try to watch game-by-game. This season there is a lot to play for so I will give my best for that."

Nonetheless, despite Alderweireld's availability, Nemanja Vidic believes that reinforcement in defense is not a priority for Manchester United with the club already having a host of players competing for places. Instead, the five-time Premier League winner has asked the Old Trafford outfit to recruit midfielders.

"Of course, I would like to see him (Alderweireld) there," Vidic told Stadium Astro.

"But I think the club has to have a priority.

"What I see is, if you want to be in the Champions League next season and challenge for the Premier League, you have to strengthen the midfield.

"You need that depth in the midfield area. "In defense they already have five players, so they can rotate, and it seems like they're doing well."

In a relative development, Manchester United is said to be interested in signing exiled Paris Saint-Germain star Adrien Rabiot. The 23-year-old French who has been at the center of controversies at the French club in recent months will be a free agent in the summer.