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Manchester United legend Gary Neville reckons Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Red Devils are still "four or five" transfer windows away from challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title.

Solskjaer splashed the cash this summer on the likes of Harry Maguire, who arrived from Leicester in a stunning £80million move, and £50m right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

United were also busy moving players on too, with Inter Milan new boy Romelu Lukaku among those to leave while Alexis Sanchez could follow him out the exit door.

However the Premier League giants have endured a stuttering start to the season, highlighted by their shock 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday, and Neville says United fans must be patient in this transitional phase.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast , he said: "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.

"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.

(Image: Getty Images)

"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."

Despite the ongoing changes at Old Trafford, Neville feels his former club are on the right track having struggled for success since Sir Alex Ferguson brought an end to his glittering spell as manager in 2013.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

"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.

"I want to see the nonsense go, the speculation that players want to go, I want to see the disciplinary issues or the little tit-for-tat stuff over the last two or three years where there have been fall-outs, I want to see that go and the leaks. I want to see a team building slowly."