United need to carry on spending, says Neville

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville believes this summer’s big spending by the Red Devils will need to be repeated in future transfer windows before the club can again be seen as title contenders.

Last season’s seventh-placed finish in the Premier League led new coach Louis van Gaal to splash out over £150 million (€190m) on Angel di Maria, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and loan signing Radamel Falcao,.

Absent from that list, though, was an out-and-out central defender, a position which has seen United struggle this season as Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans battle for form and fitness and youngster Tyler Blackett seeks to establish himself.