GARY Neville believes Manchester United MUST buy a new goalkeeper to have ANY chance of a top six finish.
Sky Sports pundit Neville won eight Prem crowns as Old Trafford’s right-back under Sir Alex Ferguson.
But Neville, 50, is dismissive of United’s prospects of coming close to the top of the tree this term.
And he suggested that even earning Champions League football was out of the equation unless Ruben Amorim can land a new No 1.
Neville said: “For United, the top six would be healthy.
“We've gone past the point now where we say Manchester United have to win the league. That's unrealistic.
“My feeling is probably seventh, eighth is where I'm looking at it now.
“But without Europe, they could get into the top six if they have a good run, if they get a goalkeeper. But a lot of things have to go their way.”
Neville, whose criticisms of United last term grew increasingly strident as the club plunged to its worst top flight finish in half a century, feels the summer spending at the front end has made a difference.
United, being linked with PSG gloveman Gianluigi Donnarumma - who is determined to quit the European champions - have splashed out £200m to land Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and now Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
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All three are set to start when United open their campaign against Arsenal on Sunday.
Speaking at the Sky Sports season launch, Neville added: “If you said to me after that Europa League Final defeat to Spurs that Manchester United would have a forward line of those three that they've signed, I'd take that, I’d have snapped your hand off.
“I didn't think they had £200 million to spend.
“So the fact they've signed those three players is good.
“I like the profile of those players, whether they settle in now is obviously the big question.
“Two of them are proven Premier League players, although they've got to step up a level.
“Mbeumo is quite solid, he's robust, he's played at Premier League level.
“He and Cunha know the Premier League, they've been to all the grounds, there's no shocks for them.
“And Sesko up front. He’s young, he's got potential but can he get off to a good start? That's important for him.”
He added: “Can they embed themselves at United? Can they get the probably 35-40 goals which would be par for those three players?
“If they can get 40 goals - and United's goals total last season was terrible - they've got chance of getting into that top six.
“But they've got to settle those three players, and we can't take that for granted anymore at United, I don't think.
“United will be looking at Champions League, that'll be the ambition.
“Not playing in Europe has to help, because there's basically more training time, less pressure on the players, less injuries.
“It means that the best players can play more often in the league, and not have those demands of a Thursday night game.
“But we've got to start the season well - and there are some tough fixtures early on.”
zouadklnty
1
h I'm eslm n
zecdlmop
2
A winning team needs good midfielders and solid backs because a good goal keeper plays vital roles in the field,honestly united cannot make top four but some of us a united fans don't like the truth. a team that will win a league or be in top 4 must have good 20players on field and bench, including 2good goal stoppers so,can united boast of that right now
rudbcikpu
0
Gary nable, how would somesomeone accidentally take them a majority to watching orana takes the thing about his VadinO, we know what's happened.They don't know and like that that doesn't gave him those sort of talk about the consistency of knowing what I had the time because it has
ome33
0
Its very hard to accept the fact that in current amorims system without a proper no.6..playing bruno is risky…..bruno is more attacking player and he dont have no.6 to cover him….so i hope amorin finds a way to fit bruno without creating problem,the perfect midfiled duo will be mainoo and baleba…..i wish bruno left to join al hilal for 100m,that money united could have re invested for baleba…
agree perfectly. he's lost so many balls in midfield that has led to us conceding
ticekmptuz
0
later they go finish 15
Hiwbdempry
3
Baleba plz
Zudadikru
0
a goalkeeper is not a problem guywe need a midfield to change this team we have good forward and now we need best midfield so keep the work good guys why a goalkeeper is not what we need now please ....
Touabekpy
0
Its very hard to accept the fact that in current amorims system without a proper no.6..playing bruno is risky…..bruno is more attacking player and he dont have no.6 to cover him….so i hope amorin finds a way to fit bruno without creating problem,the perfect midfiled duo will be mainoo and baleba…..i wish bruno left to join al hilal for 100m,that money united could have re invested for baleba…
you're the only person, who is seeing things the way they are just the plain truth Bruno in midfield is a catastrophy waiting to explode
Everblessed10
2
I hope when they start winning you will have the same opinion. You past players are ridiculous
Hihcekmsuy
2
onana na useless Goalkeeper let him just move away from the team and see how united will be prosper Onana na bad luck for united
Hihcekmsuy
3
Man united should just try and get baleba for us nothing sometimes Onana is the fault of Man united down fall if possible change Onana pls Onana is not a goalkeeper
Hezbkmort
0
I hate more especially Gary the is Analysis the now is saying like is a prophecy saying I see the best position for man u to is 7 or 8 that's Rubbish
wedcimouz
1
we need solid and young midfielder.. like as Casemiro on his prime time at Madrid
Hezbkmort
0
No keeper is also a defender so goalkeeper VI's very important onana Rubbish
Game-analyser
4
Its very hard to accept the fact that in current amorims system without a proper no.6..playing bruno is risky…..bruno is more attacking player and he dont have no.6 to cover him….so i hope amorin finds a way to fit bruno without creating problem,the perfect midfiled duo will be mainoo and baleba…..i wish bruno left to join al hilal for 100m,that money united could have re invested for baleba…
rupanrstyz
4
for me I'll keep onana and buy a midfielder. our midfield is so weak
Luzadkmruz
0
Onana out water goalkeeper
Keym001
1
this man failed as a coach now he his vomiting nonsense
Partzee
0
Our legends are always negative about the team i don’t why, we have good players, suppose they turn it around what are they going to say?
Coboryz
0
Baleba and a good keeper under the bar could make a top 4 finish.
cuuacdmy
0
Belleba without any goalkeeper is enough for united to finish top four, just break the bank and get him
yehdelmnos
0
ManU will finish 2nd,it's better than Chelsea and Man city
as usual Man u will not make top 10
AFerusmc6546
0
ManU will finish 2nd,it's better than Chelsea and Man city
Deh play top 7 Man U no go see
AFerusmc6546
0
even with the signings we have made,top four is sure
Top 10 by luck if Man U go see
Lee_Boy
0
Oh I thought he would say United would finish above Liverpool again..🫤
Recikopyz
1
Notice him saying "they" and not "WE"
last paragrah he said We have got to start the season well
ExiledDon876
4
Notice him saying "they" and not "WE"
Neadenpstu
0
broke by Christmas was a fn lie by a 💩 owner
boocluyz
1
even with the signings we have made,top four is sure
denadintuz
1
Man Utd this summer's had some decent player,. I belive they will in top for even they don't buy a goalkeeper.
Nstech
3
That's the honest truth, I agree with him we need a new keeper ASAP
zozbkmotz
2
ManU will finish 2nd,it's better than Chelsea and Man city
Saebcimpy
0
You should know well what's happening at Utd now... To suggest a buy on new keeper is a a subject to selling that 4disgrace players... As long none of them been sold... So forget about signing a new players Gary...
Ceaabcdmry
1
15th place
Ceaabcdmry
3
they end up nothing
Niucikmpru
3
GV, ManSHITster United will finish below 10 only.