Gary Neville believes United must focus on slow and steady progress (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United need ‘four or five transfer windows’ to get back to a Premier League-challenging outfit, according to Gary Neville.

United have been a club in decline since they last won the Premier League title back in 2013 and while they did finish second under Jose Mourinho in 2018, they were still 19 points behind champions Manchester City.

Neville won eight league titles during his time at Old Trafford but does not foresee the current crop reaching those heights for several years.

‘The most important thing about the transfer window for United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is that they don’t make mistakes, not that they do loads of business, but it’s about making sure they have the right type of players,’ Neville told Sky Sports.




‘It may seem like too far into the distance but I would suggest four or five transfer windows to get things absolutely right and get back to the type of squad he would want to challenge these Liverpool and Man City teams.

‘I’ve said before, he’s got to be ready, not at the end of this season, not next season, but the one after, to challenge for the Premier League title.

‘Potentially when Pep Guardiola has left Man City, or Liverpool have had another round of recruitment and another set of players in…Ole has got to be ready to pounce.

‘It’s a long-term thing. There’s not going to be quick fix or magic wand from any manager.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to be given time at United, Neville believes (Picture: Getty)

‘United have tried David Moyes, they’ve tried Louis van Gaal, they’ve tried Jose Mourinho, all proven and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going down the long road, not the quick path.

‘There’s no shortcut, there never is, and for me, it’s now about making it through these difficult moments, like losing to Crystal Palace and you feel like the world is going to fall in that but people must remain patient.’

After a summer in which they signed Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire, United started Solskjaer’s first full season in charge in perfect fashion, thrashing Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford.

However, they have since drawn with Wolves and lost to Crystal Palace with the future of Paul Pogba up in the air once again.

Manchester United were beaten late on by Crystal Palace (Picture: Getty)

But Neville is refusing to panic and believes fans must learn to take the rough with the smooth on the pitch as the team builds itself up again.

Neville added: ‘I think United are going to have moments like that in this period, there is going to be pain and there are going to be defeats that you can’t quite explain: beating Chelsea emphatically on the first day, playing well at Wolves and could’ve won the game.

‘Then all of a sudden, you’re up against Crystal Palace and you lose at home – it’s quite mystifying.

‘They’re the type of results you get when you’re trying to develop and change and transition out of one culture to another.



‘All Man United have to do is remain patient and stick to what they’re doing.’