The former United right-back believes it will take time to overhaul the squad (Picture: Getty)

Gary Neville has defended Manchester United’s transfer business this summer and rejected suggestions the squad is weaker after losing the likes of Ander Herrera and Romelu Lukaku.

United brought in three new additions – Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire – at great expense, though did not cull as much deadwood as had been anticipated going into the summer.

Instead, prominent players like Herrera and Lukaku were allowed to depart, leaving United overloaded with centre-backs but light in midfield and devoid of an out-and-out No.9.

Herrera could not agree a fresh contract and joined PSG on a free transfer (Picture: Getty)

Asked if he felt United had adequately strengthened after losing two important players, Neville gave a tetchy response on Sky Bet’s The Big Debate: ‘Have we lost them? I don’t feel like we’ve lost anything.




‘You know, losing Herrera, losing Fellaini, getting Lukaku out of the club. Lukaku was 105kg. He admitted himself he was overweight.

‘I think there’s three or four players that the club would like to get rid of. I think there’s three or four players Ole would like to get rid of. I think getting rid of them all at once, though, would weaken the club and weaken the team for this season. So I think he’s getting rid of them one at a time and he’s bleeding them out of the club.

‘So, for me, you’re not crying over Fellaini leaving. Herrera to be fair huffed and puffed, but there’s loads of him around. There’s loads of Ander Herrera’s around. He’s nothing special, honestly. There’s loads of him around.’

Asked if he’s confident in United’s existing options, he continued: ‘No I’m not confident in it but my point is if you said to me put McTominay in there for 30 games this season, will he do a lot worse than Herrera? I don’t think he will.

Neville feels United’s transition will take time and can’t happen in one window (Picture: Sky Sports)

‘I genuinely think, I know it sounds crazy, but Liverpool fans on Henderson and Milner, they don’t really like them that much as players, but they actually accept that they give their all and if the team are winning and they’ve got a little bit of good around them, they’ll accept them. And that’s what Herrera is, those players.

‘I was one of those at United for years where basically there were amazing players but actually there were five or six of us – myself, Darren Fletcher, John O’Shea, my brother, Nicky Butt – you need that solid element at a club but there’s lots of them around. The real big problem for United is getting the world-class players who are committed to the club.’