Gary Neville says Manchester United are still short in defence and midfield, even after three first-team signings this summer. He wants a left-back, a centre-back and two midfield players added to a squad that already includes Luke Shaw as a central part of the discussion.

Neville's four priorities

Speaking to manchestereveningnews.co.uk, Neville said: "I think United need a left-back for next season because Luke Shaw has played every game this year and he may struggle. They need a centre-back, 100%, and they need two midfield players."

He went further in the same interview, adding: "They are the four priorities right now. They're the players I would look at adding to this squad."

That is a pretty direct checklist. United's three summer arrivals so far are Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Karl Darlow, but Neville's point is that the spine still needs work where it matters most.

Why the defence still looks short

Neville's urgency is not just about quality. Luke Shaw played in all 38 Premier League games for the first time in his career, which is a strong season for him but also a warning sign for a squad leaning heavily on one player at left-back.

Matthijs de Ligt's back issue ruled him out for the second half of the season, and Lisandro Martinez has missed 92 matches across four seasons at Manchester United. Those are not small absences, and they sit awkwardly beside a squad that is still being rebuilt.

The league position adds to the pressure. United are 16th in the current Premier League standings, and they finished third in 2025. Neville is looking at a team that has already added bodies, but not enough cover in the places he thinks will decide the next step.

United have won four of their last five league matches, which makes the warning sound harsher, not softer. The results have improved, but Neville still sees two unfilled spots in defence and two more in midfield before the squad looks balanced enough for his liking.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →