Old Trafford squad still needs investment according to former player.
Despite spending over £150m on new players over the summer former Man United defender Phil Neville feels that the Old Trafford side are still some way off mounting a Premier League title challenge according to the BBC.
Louis van Gaal took over the Man United reins this summer following a disastrous season under David Moyes, when the Scot lasted just nine months and the club managed a woeful seventh place finish.
Read more:
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United: Old Trafford side pursue Real Madrid star
SEE ALSO: best teenagers in world football
Read more Manchester United FC news.
Neville is convinced that much more investment is needed by the Dutch boss before Man United can return to their usual spot at the upper reaches of the Premier League.
“I think there’s another two transfer windows of similar amounts of money needed – maybe £100m – before they can even think about winning the title.”
“Manchester United’s defence lacked leadership, experience and quality against Leicester. But if I criticise them, it is also important I point out they did not have much protection. The balance of the team was all wrong. We already knew Louis van Gaal’s squad was top-heavy with superb attacking talent but this game was the first time we have seen that it does not matter how dangerous they are going forward if they cannot defend.”
The bulk of van Gaal’s spending related to options in the final third though Phil Neville believes a centre-back and a defensively minded midfield addition would be key to future success.
“That squad needed quality, not just run-of-the-mill players, they needed world-class players, and there were no world-class centre-backs out there,” Neville said.
“I think that’s why in the next two transfer windows, United might still be looking for that world-class defender.”
Neville is quick to back certain defensive members of van Gaal’s current squad
“I am certain Chris Smalling will come good and I have full faith in Phil Jones as well. They’ve bought a lot of foreign players, you don’t get rid of your English spine.”
For all the criticism Moyes came under during his brief spell in charge of Man United it’s worth noting that van Gaal, with a higher level of funding, has fared worse.
Man United have secured just one win in their first five Premier League fixtures and crashed out of the Capital One Cup following an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to League One side MK Dons.