Gary Neville has encouraged Man Utd to address their defensive weaknesses by signing a centre-back and full-back before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. United have spent £155m this summer on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, having added attackers Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in the summer of 2025. However, Neville says defensive frailties could undermine progress in those areas for head coach Michael Carrick.
"In a perfect world, if you'd said to Michael Carrick, 'what would you have done this summer?' he would have said, 'rebuild the midfield, and I would rebuild the defence'," Neville told Sky Sports. "But, to be fair, last season, they've spent, whatever it is, £170m on attackers. They've spent £150m this year on midfielders.
They're doing it piece by piece. That might be the sensible thing to do, to not overhaul everything at once. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "They have got some individually decent defenders, but there isn't a back four there and when it starts to get put under pressure and it starts to pick up a couple of injuries during the season, it will let you down.
Michael knows that right now. "If they could get a centre-back and a full-back before the window closes, that will stop problems that we know we're going to see. "I'm not saying they've been bad all the time, but you just know full well, in Champions League football, Premier League games, they will have problems and they will have issues.
"I'm amazed that United haven't added at the back. I'm amazed that Liverpool haven't added two full-backs because they need two full-backs. "Arsenal are strengthening when they're absolutely at the top.
Manchester United and Liverpool aren't in that position. So I'm surprised at the windows these two great clubs have had." United are continuing to monitor potential options at left-back to further strengthen Carrick's squad before Tuesday's deadline and could make their move if the right opportunity becomes available. United enquired about the availability of Aston Villa's Ian Maatsen but he is set to be offered a new contract.
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