Michael Carrick is ready to become Manchester United’s permanent head coach – and Gary Neville hopes the squad will be significantly strengthened this summer
Gary Neville shares his thoughts on Arsenal’s midfield (Image: Sky Sports)
Manager Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to support Michael Carrick with six quality new signings, warning that the situation could “easily fall apart” unless the squad is significantly strengthened.
Carrick has been in talks to become United’s permanent head coach after leading the club to third place in the Premier League since replacing Ruben Amorim on an interim basis, securing qualification for next season’s Champions League in the process.
The 44-year-old will be given the chance to continue the rebuilding of the club he has won 11 of his 16 games as manager and represented more than 400 times as a player.
With their return to the Champions League now certain, United are expected to be active in the transfer market. And Neville warned the Red Devils that injury could easily devastate next season if they don’t get through the summer, insisting Carrick’s side need quality reinforcements if they are to challenge on multiple fronts.
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“Michael Carrick’s squad at the moment is paper thin. If two or three players get injured, it will collapse quickly,” he explained on the Gary Neville podcast.
“Teams are under a lot of stress by playing three times a week. Some players are more prone to injury, some players are more fatigued, and that’s inevitable.”
He added: “In an ideal world we would bring in three defenders. They need one who can play in two positions and support them (like Pierrot Hincapie or Ben White at Arsenal) and then they need another top centre-back and a left-back. I think three defenders would be perfect.”
Michael Carrick is ready to become United’s next head coach and Neville wants to back him (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
“In that case, they need two midfielders, and in an ideal world I would think five would be perfect. And if you were really greedy, you would swap Mason Mount for some kind of another forward. Or maybe someone like Mason Mount, because you have to take into account the fact that Bruno (Fernandes), who is a difficult player to replace and half Mason Mount, does it a little bit.”
“He’s a player who can play in the wide areas and maybe even wear the number 10 on his back at times. Guys like (Phil) Foden, (Cole) Palmer and (Ryan) Cherki. He’s a flexible forward who can play the number 10 if for some reason Bruno Fernandes is not available.”
Neville went on to stress that United must prioritize signing at least two top central midfielders and a quality central defender if they want to give Carrick a further chance of success, stating that the former Middlesbrough boss is set to sign a two-year deal with an option for a further 12 months.
United want to sign at least two midfielders with Casemiro leaving Old Trafford (Image: (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images))
“I want six players there, but I don’t think I’m being greedy. What matters is how much these players cost and how smart Manchester United are. Absolutely obvious: a top centre-back and two top central midfield players. Absolutely obvious.”
“But they have to get a couple more players from there to strengthen the squad and make it competitive and give Michael Carrick the best chance of repeating his previous performances without the interference of Champions League games and cup competitions.”
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