Manchester United legend Gary Neville has outlined the six players he believes the club must target for signings this summer.
The Red Devils are expected to undergo a significant squad restructuring under the new co-owners, Ineos, especially after experiencing their worst-ever season in the Premier League.
While reports suggest Wolves player Matheus Cunha could be the first acquisition via his £62.5 million release clause, Neville, an Old Trafford icon, insists the club needs at least six new signings to properly initiate the rebuild under Ruben Amorim.
Speaking to The Athletic, the 50-year-old commented: “What they need to do now is to create some stability. There has been a lot of instability off the pitch in respect of the non-playing staff and there has been a lot of instability on the pitch with the changes of manager and changes to the squad.
“That has got to stop at some point and they’ve got to embed in Ruben’s team, let them develop. I think this time next year we’ll know a lot more, when we see whether Ruben can build a successful team.
“Christmas next year we’ll know a lot more, because I think Ruben needs to get that second transfer window. He needs a proper pre-season with the team to embed this system and this style of play.
“We’ll know a lot more in October, November, December when I’m sure they’ll be winning more matches than they are now.”
Neville stressed the scale of the required changes: “It needs a big overhaul in the summer. Five or six players minimum to be able to change the direction of how he wants to play.
“Ruben has been very good at identifying the players he wants out of the club; that’s really clear to everybody. The club’s job now is to get them out and get replacements in that he likes and wants in his team.”
Under Amorim`s management, Man Utd has secured only six wins from 26 league matches, but they remain undefeated in ten Europa League games, a run that led them to Wednesday`s final in Bilbao.
However, the final is against Tottenham, a team that has beaten Man Utd three times already this season across the league and Carabao Cup.
Neville admitted the upcoming final is causing him significant stress due to its importance for both clubs, especially with Man Utd and Spurs positioned 16th and 17th respectively in the Premier League.
The eight-time Premier League champion added: “That game is making my stomach churn with its level of importance, to both clubs. Not just from a silverware perspective, not just from a manager’s perspective, but also from a finance perspective; what it gives both clubs in terms of attracting players and the money that it will put into the clubs. It’s making me a little bit sick.”
Fellow “Class of `92” graduate David Beckham echoed Neville`s call for supporting Amorim rather than dismissing him during the summer window.
He also told The Athletic: “Ruben needs to be backed as a manager to bring in his team and his philosophy; he’s trying that already but I think once he brings his team in and his players, then you’ll see something different.”
Beckham specifically mentioned the club captain: “I’d like to think you wouldn’t have to sell your captain (Bruno Fernandes). He has been exceptional. We’ve all been critical at times of some United players — but when we needed someone to step up, he has done it.”
He also expressed a strong desire to keep young, homegrown talent: “I also hate (the idea of) any young player who has grown up at United leaving the club. We shouldn’t be selling players purely for financial reasons.”
“It should be what they are doing on the field and if they’re not performing, there’s always a chance — we all knew that, I knew that. If I wasn’t performing on the pitch, it didn’t matter what I’d done in the past or what I was going to do in the future; there was a good chance that I was either going to get left on the bench, or I was going to get sold.
“I’d like to think that Manchester United don’t sell players that have grown up at the club, understand and love the club. I don’t want to see players leave Manchester United if they care about United like I do…”
Comparing Amorim`s approach, Beckham referenced Sir Alex Ferguson: “A lot of managers have come in and said that but I think you just have to look back at one of the greatest managers to ever lead Manchester United and one of the greatest managers in football. The manager (Ferguson) always knew when to change and when to adapt. He always knew he had another option to change the system, to change the players, to bring in new talent. He was the best at it.
“So if he can do it, then at some point I’m sure if Ruben sees there’s an opportunity to change the system or change the way he plays, maybe he will have to do it. But I like the fact that he is like: ‘No, I’m going to stick with my system’. And that’s what I respect about him.”
