Manchester United transfer latest: Gary Neville claims Red Devils must buy centre-back and left-back before transfer window closes
Gary Neville insisted Man Utd's defensive vulnerabilities will let Michael Carrick down if not addressed by the end of the transfer window; summer transfer window deadline is 11pm on September 1 - follow on SSN and with the Transfer Centre in the Sky Sports app
Sunday 30 August 2026 20:57, UK
Gary Neville encouraged Manchester United to address their defensive weaknesses by signing a centre-back and full-back before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
United have spent £155m this summer on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, having added attackers Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in the summer of 2025.
However, Neville says defensive frailties could undermine progress in those areas for head coach Michael Carrick.
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"In a perfect world, if you'd said to Michael Carrick, 'what would you have done this summer?' he would have said, 'rebuild the midfield, and I would rebuild the defence'," Neville told Sky Sports before Manchester United's game against Ipswich.
"But, to be fair, last season, they've spent, whatever it is, £170m on attackers. They've spent £150m this year on midfielders. They're doing it piece by piece. That might be the sensible thing to do, to not overhaul everything at once.
"They have got some individually decent defenders, but there isn't a back four there and when it starts to get put under pressure and it starts to pick up a couple of injuries during the season, it will let you down. Michael knows that right now.
"If they could get a centre-back and a full-back before the window closes, that will stop problems that we know we're going to see.
"I'm not saying they've been bad all the time, but you just know full well, in Champions League football, Premier League games, they will have problems and they will have issues. It's not being harsh. Everybody knows it.
"I'm amazed that United haven't added at the back. I'm amazed that Liverpool haven't added two full-backs because they need two full-backs.
"Arsenal are strengthening when they're absolutely at the top. Manchester United and Liverpool aren't in that position. So I'm surprised at the windows these two great clubs have had."
'Bringing in one or two defenders would change the whole dynamic of Man Utd's season'
Neville elaborated on his suggestion that Manchester United need two defenders before Tuesday's 11pm deadline after the 5-2 Super Sunday win against Ipswich.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the Sky Sports pundit said: "What the midfield need to do most is make sure that they're always protecting that back four - and that's going to be the key.
"[Carlos] Baleba is the most physical and the most defensive [midfielder]. They needed that fourth midfield player that had that profile and he's really important, because you can see already that Manchester United's back four can be got at.
"We knew that because it's the same defenders as last season and the season before. They conceded 50 last season, so it's not going to change unless they play better - which let's hope they do - but also that the midfield two protects them more.
"That has to happen or else they'll concede a lot of goals. They've conceded four in two [Premier League games] already, they've conceded a lot of chances against Ipswich in the first half and this is not going to be a team that's going to be in the top half of the league, more than likely, so that would be the concern.
"It's not me shouting, 'buy a load of players, do this, spend your money' but what Manchester United have done is they've rebuilt their attack last season. They've rebuilt the midfield this season. It feels like they're going to wait to rebuild the defence for another 12 months.
"I don't know if there are one or two defenders available, but if there are, can you somehow try and advance that money into this window and then spend less next season? Because it would really make a massive difference if they could get a centre-back and a full-back in.
"You saw at the end of the game [against Ipswich] when Dalot and Shaw go off, you've got [Leny] Yoro playing right-back, and you've got [Noussair] Mazraoui playing left-back. That's not ideal at all.
"One of them [Yoro] is makeshift full-back at best, there's no lack of willingness for him to play there, but he's not a full-back. Mazraoui can play left-back, but he's not the left-back that you want there.
"Lewis Hall was mentioned a couple of weeks ago, but I can't see Newcastle ever going to let him go. I apologise for mentioning his name because just by doing that, there's a suggestion that I might think that he could come to Manchester United, but he's an outstanding left-back. Myles Lewis-Skelly was mentioned and again, someone who can play left-back, but maybe more in midfield.
"But that is going to be the question for Manchester United this season - how do they stem the flow of goals going into the back of their net?
"That can be done by being more compact, it can be done by changing the structure of the front part of the team, but you wouldn't really want to do that because one of the things that's going to keep Carrick in the job other than winning is entertaining the fans and he's done that today.
"But when they go to Everton in the next game and when Manchester City come here in two weeks, they're going to have to be better defensively, they're going to have to be tighter and more compact.
"So that's the big question - can Michael Carrick get a defender or two in the next 48 hours? If he can't, then how does he structure the team?
"Carrick may have a thought process of how he can solidify the defensive part without bringing another defender in and that's something that could be possible, but bringing in at least one defender in, maybe two, would change the whole dynamic of how you think about Manchester United's season."
What could Man Utd do before Tuesday transfer deadline?
Manchester United are continuing to monitor potential options at left-back to further strengthen Carrick's squad before Tuesday's deadline and could make their move if the right opportunity becomes available.
United enquired about the availability of Aston Villa's Ian Maatsen but he is set to be offered a new contract.
They have long held an interest in Newcastle's Lewis Hall, but the Magpies insists he is not for sale.
Luke Shaw is United's only senior left-back, with right-backs Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot able to deputise in the position. New midfield signing Carlos Baleba can also play there if required. United's only other left-back is youngster Harry Amass, but he is expected to leave the club - most likely on loan.
United are continuing to do work in the left-back market with a view to the future and a potential investment in one of the next two transfer windows, with their financial situation making a signing there next year a potentially more prudent decision based on what players are available.
Manchester United transfers
In
Carlos Baleba - Man Utd, £70m
Andrey Santos - Chelsea, £50m
Youri Tielemans - Aston Villa, £35m
Tynan Thompson - Tottenham, £8m
Cristian Orozco - Fortaleza, undisclosed
Kit Margetson - Swansea, compensation
Karl Darlow - Leeds, free
Out
Rasmus Hojlund - Napoli, £38m
Toby Collyer - West Brom, £7.6m
Radek Vitek - Middlesbrough, £7m
Ethan Williams - Peterborough, undisclosed
Tyler Fredricson - Lausanne-Sport, undisclosed
Ethan Ennis - Stockport, free
Sonny Aljofree - Rotherham, free
James Bailey - Stockport, free
Casemiro - Inter Miami, free
Jacob Devaney, Hibernian, loan
Altay Bayindir - Celta Vigo, loan
Sekou Kone - Lausanne-Sport, loan
Andre Onana - Trabzonspor, loan
Elyh Harrison - Morton, loan
Tyrell Malacia - released
Jadon Sancho - released
Malachi Sharpe - released
