Gary Neville has publicly urged Manchester United to shore up the back line by bringing in a centre‑back and a full‑back before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday. While United have already splashed a hefty £155 million on midfield reinforcements this summer – notably Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans – and bolstered their attacking options with the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško during the 2025 summer campaign, Neville warns that the defensive side of the squad remains fragile and could jeopardise the progress made elsewhere. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of United’s clash with Ipswich, Neville painted a picture of what manager Michael Carrick might have prioritized if he had full control over the summer market.
“In an ideal scenario, if you asked Carrick what his ideal summer would look like, he’d probably say ‘revamp the midfield and rebuild the defence’,” the former England right‑back explained. He acknowledged that United have already spent roughly £170 million on forwards last season and about £150 million on midfielders this year, suggesting a phased approach may be more sensible than a wholesale overhaul. Nevertheless, Neville stressed that United’s current defensive roster, while containing a few capable individuals, lacks a cohesive back four. When the team is pressed, injuries pile up and fatigue sets in, the defensive unit is likely to crumble.
"If they can secure a centre‑back and a full‑back before the window closes, they will at least mitigate the problems we know are looming," he said. Neville was careful not to label United’s back line as outright failures, but he was blunt about the challenges ahead in both Premier League and Champions League fixtures.
"They’ve not added anyone at the back, whereas Liverpool have already signed two full‑backs despite also needing them. Arsenal are strengthening even while sitting at the summit of the table – United and Liverpool, who are not in that position, have been surprisingly quiet in the defensive market," he added. On his own podcast, Neville expanded on why the midfield must protect the defence. He highlighted Baleba as the most physical, defensively‑oriented midfielder, noting that United’s back four has already been exposed.
The team conceded 50 goals last season and, without a tighter midfield shield, similar numbers could repeat. "They’ve already let in four goals across two league games and gave away many chances against Ipswich in the first half. If they don’t tighten up, they won’t be competing for a top‑half finish," Neville warned.
He argued that United’s recent strategy has been to rebuild the attack last season and the midfield this season, but the defence appears to be on a 12‑month waiting list. "If there are one or two defenders available, they should divert some of the budget now and spend less next season.
Getting a centre‑back and a full‑back would make a massive difference," Neville suggested. Neville also pointed out the makeshift solutions United have resorted to in recent games. After Dalot and Shaw were substituted against Ipswich, United fielded Leny Yoro at right‑back and Noussair Mazraoui at left‑back – both out of position. "Yoro is a makeshift full‑back at best, and Mazraoui, while capable, isn’t the ideal left‑back we need," he observed.
He mentioned a few potential targets, apologising for naming them and possibly giving the impression they could be pursued. Lewis Hall from Newcastle was cited as an outstanding left‑back, though Newcastle have made it clear he is not for sale.
Myles Lewis‑Skelly was also mentioned as a left‑back‑capable midfielder, but his primary role lies further up the pitch. Neville concluded that United must decide how to stem the flow of goals. Options include becoming more compact, altering the team’s shape, or simply adding defensive signings. He praised Carrick for entertaining fans, but warned that upcoming fixtures against Everton and Manchester City will test United’s defensive resilience.
"If Carrick can’t bring in a defender or two in the next 48 hours, he’ll need to restructure the team. Perhaps he has a tactical plan to tighten the defence without new faces, but a fresh centre‑back or full‑back would dramatically change the season’s outlook," Neville said.
United have already shown interest in several players. They inquired about Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen, who is likely to receive a new contract, and have long tracked Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, who remains unavailable.
Currently, senior left‑back Luke Shaw is the only established option, with Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot able to cover the position, while new midfield signing Baleba can also fill in if needed. Youngster Harry Amass, another left‑back, is expected to leave on loan. The club continues to monitor the left‑back market for future investments, acknowledging that financial prudence may dictate a signing in the next transfer window rather than this one.
The list of recent signings and departures underscores United’s active transfer strategy, but the defensive gap remains a glaring concern that Neville believes must be addressed before the deadline.