Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville says the club may need
to spend another £100m on players before they can compete for the league
title.
United
lost 5-3 to Leicester
on Saturday, but Neville says he "wasn't surprised with the result".
"I know United have spent £150m," Neville told BBC Radio 5 live.
"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."
Neville later
clarified on Twitter
that he was referring to a total spend of £100m across the two windows.
New United boss Louis van Gaal signed midfielders Angel
di Maria, Ander Herrera and Daley Blind on big-money deals in the
summer, along with defenders Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw, while the club
also completed a loan deal for striker Radamel Falcao.
But Neville, who coached at Old Trafford last year,
told BBC Radio 5 live that "there are still key positions in the team
that need filling".
"I think the centre-back position is obviously the key
area," Neville said. "Holding midfield or centre midfield needs
addressing [too]."
Twenty-year-old Tyler Blackett has played at
centre-back in all five of Manchester United's league games this season,
but he struggled against Leicester and was sent off.
However, Neville defended the club's failure to sign an
established centre-back in the summer transfer window, and backed
United's English defensive contingent to prove their worth.
"That squad needed quality, not just run-of-the-mill players, they needed world-class players," Neville said.
"And there were no world-class centre-backs out there. I
think that's why in the next two transfer windows, United might still
be looking for that world-class defender.
"I am certain Chris Smalling will come good and I have
full faith in Phil Jones as well. They've bought of a lot of foreign
players, you don't get rid of your English spine."
United are currently 12th in the Premier League table, having won just one game.
0 Comment:
Post a Comment