Gary Neville identifies where Man United need signings
The former England right-back thinks United need a new centre-half but that the board will be blocking the approach of any until current centre-halves are moved on
Gary Neville has suggested Manchester United’s board lack the experience in football to recognise that Jose Mourinho needs a better centre-half than any currently on their books.
Manchester United have spent over £100m on the centre-halves in their squad since Mourinho took over the reins from Louis van Gaal in May 2016.
And former Manchester United defender Neville suggested the board believe that this should be enough quality among the current centre-halves to compete at the highest level.
However, the Sky Sports pundit admitted that Manchester United must sell some of these in order to bring in a centre-half to match their ambitions.
“Manchester United do need a centre-half,” Neville told Second Captains podcast.
“But if you’re the board who are non-football people, they’ll have thought they have Jones, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Lindelöf and Rojo.
“There are six centre-halves. They have spent over £100m on them.
“If they get another couple, they’ll have eight. They need to get rid of some.”
Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were touted as the future of the centre of England’s defence when they were brought in, but form and fitness have been a constant struggle for the two who have never achieved their potential.
Daley Blind was brought in as a left-back but made the move to centre-half after good performances in his first season but has struggled for form since and returned to Ajax this summer.
Marcus Rojo made the exact same positional change but has never reproduced his international form in United colours.
Victor Lindelöf has been widely considered not good enough since moving to Old Trafford, with Eric Bailly the only semblance of success without a partner next to him to complement his style of play.
United have failed to replace either Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand, and Neville believes that the board have failed to recognise the need to bring in players of that calibre.
