Manchester United Transfer News: Gary Neville Urges 3 Signings, Latest Rumours

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has called on Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal to spend big on three positions in the latter stages of the transfer window.  

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Neville suggested that the spine of the team needs bolstering if United are to challenge for major honours this season, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:

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It's still hovering on with this situation regards to the transfer window.

They could be in a position where they've got one centre forward, potentially not got the best goalkeeper if he moves off to Real Madrid, and they could - if they get an injury to a centre-back - Phil Jones is out at the moment - they could need another centre-back. That's the three main positions on the pitch.

They look weak up front with Wayne Rooney and Chicharito, at the back with Jones injured. If they get another injury there they could look weak. And at goalkeeper where they had De Gea. It's a massive two weeks, it's a big, big two weeks for Manchester United in terms of trying to hold onto those players they've got and strengthen as much as they can.

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There’s no denying the squad does look a little unbalanced. The captures of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger have bolstered a midfield that is rife with options—according to Expressen (via Sean Kearns of Metro), they are set to sign 16-year-old midfielder Sead Haksabanovic too—but in the forward positions and at centre-back, the Red Devils are a little short.

Up front, the tepid performances of Wayne Rooney have given United supporters some cause for concern. Indeed, even with their lack of defensive options, Alex Shaw of ESPN FC thinks that’s the most important area that needs to be addressed before the end of the window:

Still, in defence, United aren’t blessed with a surfeit of options. Granted, Daley Blind has done well as a makeshift centre-back in his outings there so far, but it’s debatable whether he is a long-term solution for United. As Neville alludes to, should any centre-back be struck down by injury or suspension, they do look short of cover.

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As Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette notes, there are also major questions about some of the current options available to Van Gaal:

You suspect United’s summer has been temporarily put on hold until the situation surrounding David De Gea is solved, though. The latest reports from Carlos Carpio of Marca suggest that Real Madrid are desperate to land the goalkeeper this summer and will move for him in the latter stages of the window. 

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It’s a saga that has been dragging on and on throughout the summer, and it’s going to be intriguing to see whether United continue to dig their heels in as they face Real's interest. Sam Pilger of FourFourTwo thinks it’s a transfer that should have been sorted long ago anyway:

After bringing in players such as Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay, the Red Devils seemed set for a summer of major prosperity. But with around two weeks left in the window, Van Gaal is in possession of a squad that is bristling with talent but still thinly spread in facets.

The sale of Angel Di Maria seemed set to trigger a flurry of further incoming players, but they've yet to materialise. Any activity in the final knockings is likely to be determined by whether De Gea goes to Real Madrid, but if this squad in its current status quo is left to fire United’s title charge, it will be an effort that comes up short.