Neville pinpoints Man Utd’s “next step” as he urges board to back Solskjaer

Manchester United’s aim has to be breaking into the Premier League’s top two, according to Gary Neville.

The Red Devils finished as best of the rest last term after securing third place on the season’s final day.

An excellent second half of the season was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side soar up the table and deliver Champions League Football.

United though are without a trophy since their Europa League triumph under Jose Mourinho in 2017.

And Neville believes ending their silverware drought, as well as finishing in the top two, has to be on the club’s agenda.

He said: “A trophy and breaking that top two has to be the next step. I think this year he has to look to break that top two and that’s going to be difficult.

“He needs more players and support from the board to do that.

“If United don’t sign any players it won’t be down to the manager that they haven’t broken into that top two.

“There isn’t anybody in the world with that squad that would break that top two in this moment in time and maybe even struggle to compete with Chelsea with the way they’ve strengthened.

“So this is the moment that Ole, yes he had a difficult start to last season, but I think with what he’s done he deserves that backing that the other managers in the last ten years have been afforded.”

Solskjaer’s record in the transfer market has been impressive thus far, with the addition of Bruno Fernandes proving to be an inspired signing.

Donny van de Beek is the only major new face to arrive so far this summer and Neville is conscious that his former club need reinforcements in other areas.

He added: “I said last season, even when United were doing well, that they need four or five players of the highest quality not only to challenge for squad places but that can go into the first team.

“And I think that was proven in the bigger moments towards the end of the season, where you look over the shoulder on the bench and the game changers aren’t there, the depth is not there.

“They definitely need a centre-back, they definitely need a midfield player, they definitely need a forward and a right winger, and I think that they need also potentially another defender, maybe a left back.

“So, for me, it’s four or five players as a minimum that they needed.”

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