Neville On Why United Need 5 Players To Challenge For The Title Next Season

Neville On Why United Need 5 Players To Challenge For The Title Next Season

Manchester United legend Gary Neville still believes his former side’s squad needs strengthening in order to challenge at the top of the Premier League next season.

The Red Devils managed to defeat Paris Saint-Germain without ten senior players last night but Neville insists major improvements are needed in defence, in midfield and up front:


“The manager needs a new back four, there’s no doubt. They need someone with authority. You watch Virgil van Dijk or Thiago Silva, they’re world-class centre backs and United need someone like that.”

“I still think they need strengthening in other areas. I would say three defenders, one midfielder and one forward, because of the form of Alexis Sanchez.”

“Unless he completely changes what he’s doing in the next few months, United need another forward. I’d say they need five additions to the squad. Then the squad would be in good shape and could challenge.”

A centre-half who can command the backline is certainly something United will look to address in the summer. The Manchester club are reportedly considering four options in that area.

As Neville mentions, Alexis Sanchez’s poor form may force a change up front as well, with Juventus forward Paulo Dybala having been tipped as a possible signing.

With Romelu Lukaku performing so well, alongside Marcus Rashford, and with Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard still to come back into the side, it remains to be seen whether a new striker is a priority.

The midfield is a more complicated matter. Fred put in his best display for United against PSG last night while Ander Herrera has been superb since Solskjaer’s appointment.

However, the Spaniard’s contract is up in the summer, while Nemanja Matic isn’t getting younger. The Serbian will be 31 at the start of next season.

David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.