Gary Neville names six signings Man Utd must make for Michael Carrick | Football | Sport
Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to support Michael Carrick with six top-quality signings this summer, cautioning that the squad could “fall apart quite easily” if it is not significantly upgraded. Carrick is imminently set to be announced as United’s permanent head coach after steering the club to a third-place finish in the Premier League. Carrick has been a huge success since stepping in on an interim basis to replace Ruben Amorim, securing Champions League football for next season in the process.
The 44-year-old has claimed victory in 11 of his 16 matches in charge and will now be handed the opportunity to press ahead with the rebuilding of the club he represented on more than 400 occasions as a player. With a return to European football’s elite competition secured, United are widely expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer. And Neville has cautioned that the Red Devils could rapidly be ravaged by injuries next season without significant investment, insisting Carrick’s side requires quality reinforcements if they are to mount a serious challenge on multiple fronts.
“Michael Carrick’s got a squad at the moment that is paper-thin. If two or three players got injured, it would fall apart quite quickly,” he explained on The Gary Neville podcast.
“The squad will come under great stress playing three times a week. There are some players out there who are injury prone, some players who fatigue more and it’s just inevitable.”
He added: “In an ideal world you’d bring three defenders in. They need one of them [like Piero Hincapie and Ben White at Arsenal] that can play in two positions and support, then they need another top centre-back and a left-back. I think three defenders would be perfect.
“Then they need two midfielders, in an ideal world you’d think that five would be perfect. Then if you were being really greedy you’d then swap out Mason Mount for another forward of some kind.
“Or maybe someone like Mason Mount because you’ve got to think about the fact the Bruno [Fernandes] who is someone who is difficult to replace and Mason Mount half does that a little bit.
“Maybe somebody who can play in wide areas and sometimes number 10. Players like [Phil] Foden and [Cole] Palmer and [Rayan] Cherki. A flexible forward who can play number 10 if Bruno Fernandes isn’t there for whatever reason.”
Neville proceeded to emphasise that United had to prioritise securing two elite central midfielders and a quality central defender as the absolute minimum if they are to provide Carrick with the best opportunity of continued success in the position.
The former Middlesbrough manager is expected to sign a two-year deal with an option for an additional 12 months.
Neville continued: “I’m asking for six players there and I don’t think I’m being greedy, it’s just how much these players cost and how smart Manchester United can be.
“The absolute unequivocals are a top centre-back and two top central midfield players. Absolute unequivocal. But they’ve got to go and get two or three more around that to beef up the squad to enable themselves to compete.
“And to give Michael Carrick the best chance of being able to repeat the performances he’s had without the interference of Champions League games and cup competitions.”
