Gary Neville names the SIX quality signings Man Utd must make to back Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is poised to be become Manchester United's permanent head coach - and Gary Neville wants to see his squad strengthened significantly this summer

Gary Neville has called on Manchester United to back Michael Carrick with six quality new signings after warning that things could "fall apart quite easily" if their playing squad is not significantly strengthened.

Carrick is in talks to become United's permanent head coach after guiding the club to a third-placed finish in the Premier League since replacing Ruben Amorim on an interim basis, clinching qualification for next season's Champions League in the process.

The 44-year-old has won 11 of his 16 games at the helm and will now be given the chance to continue the rebuild of the club he represented over 400 times as a player.

With a return to the Champions League secured, United are expected to be active in the transfer window. And Neville has warned the Red Devils that they could easily be decimated by injuries next season if they do not spend in the summer, arguing Carrick's squad needs quality additions if they are to 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 went on to stress that United had to prioritise signing two top central midfielders and a quality central defender at the bare minimum if they are to give Carrick the best chance of further success in the role, with the former Middlesbrough boss expected to sign a two-year contract with an option for a further 12 months.

"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 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."