Neville claims Man Utd still need five signings to mount title challenge

Gary Neville TEAMtalk

Gary Neville thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still needs to sign five players if Man Utd are to challenge for the Premier League title.

The Red Devils are reportedly on the verge of completing the signing of Donny van de Beek from Ajax.

Latest reports also suggest that a deal to sign centre-back Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig is also on the cards. United’s board, however, still need some convincing over that signing.

United’s good form in the second half of the season saw them finish third in the table. However, they were still 33 points behind runaway winners Liverpool.

And Neville reckons it could take another five signings until Man Utd are challenging the Reds and Man City for the title.

“The Manchester United squad, as it stands today, cannot challenge for the Premier League title this season,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“The squad needed four or five improvements and it still needs four or five improvements. I’ve been saying that for a year and I’ve even nominated the positions I feel they need to improve.

 

“They have to sign a world class centre-back. For me, another midfield player. I also think a right winger, a centre-forward and you have to look at left-back because of Luke Shaw’s injuries and the fact he has obviously been in and out of the team in the last two or three years.

“So, I think there are definitely four or five players required and to not get three, I think it would be a problem because of what the other clubs are doing.”

 

GIGGS BACKS STRUGGLING UNITED STAR TO BOUNCE BACK

Daniel James will emerge from his tough time at Manchester United a stronger player says his Wales manager Ryan Giggs.

Speedy winger James hit the ground running at Old Trafford following his £18million move from Swansea in June 2019.

Daniel James Conor Coady Getty

James scored three goals in his first four games as a United player. But he managed only one more in his next 42 appearances as his early-season form faded.

The 22-year-old started just one Premier League game when football returned after the coronavirus lockdown. He was regularly singled out for criticism on social media platforms.

But Giggs is expected to hand James a starting role in Wales’ Nations League opener against Finland in Helsinki on Thursday and believes he will actually benefit from his time out of the United spotlight. Read more…