Gary Neville has cautioned Manchester United that signing Donny van de Beek is not enough to make them strong contenders of the league in the season ahead.

The Red Devils are set to officially confirm their first signing of the Ajax midfielder in a £40million. The Red Devils are still chasing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund despite the German's club close of chapter.

The former Manchester United player has made a rough draft on areas Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side must fulfill before his team is transformed into one of the very best, that fans can rely on as challengers. To him, five players are required – a midfield player, right-winger, center-forward and a left-back who can cook something sooner than expected.

“The Manchester United squad, as it stands today, cannot challenge for the Premier League title this season,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“The squad needed four or five improvements and it still needs four or five improvements. I've been saying that for a year and I've even nominated the positions I feel they need to improve.

”It's frustrating at the moment, as a United fan, that the club haven't done their business earlier, but there have been times where the club have panicked in the transfer market in the last 10 years, where they've been reactive, where they've overpaid and where they've got it wrong.

“So, you have to be sensible. If the deals aren't there to do, you don't do them, but there's definitely that tension building, particularly on social media. Why has Jadon Sancho not signed? Why have we not got Thiago Alcantara? Why haven't we got whoever it might be that's gone to another club?

READ ALSO:

Van Dijk lauds Van de Beek's move to United

“They have to sign a world-class center-back. For me, another midfield player. I also think a right-winger, a center-forward and you have to look at left-back because of Luke Shaw's injuries and the fact he has obviously been in and out of the team in the last two or three years.

Gary Neville advised that the deals should be done earlier to give the manager ample time to prepare the boys during preseason before setting the tone alive in the Premier League.

He suggested that if Liverpool, Man City, and Chelsea acquire the speculated players in the window for the season, it would mean that Manchester United must break the bank to make bigger signings else struggles will set in the team as they will not be able to measure up to the top four standard.

“So, I think there are definitely four or five players required, and to not get three, I think it would be a problem because of what the other clubs are doing. If Liverpool gets Thiago, if Manchester City do what they are looking like they are going to do and with Chelsea doing what they've done, they are your competitors and they all look like they are improving and moving forward.

“So, United have to do business but I do believe more in the strategy of what's happening, they just have to get the deals over the line. That's not always easy but they have to try and do it quickly to give Ole the time to build to get this team molded for the start of the season.”