Neville predicts ‘big problems’ for Man Utd if they don’t sign one player this summer

Gary Neville reckons Manchester United could face “big problems” this season if they don’t sign a new midfielder before the transfer window shuts.

Despite starting the match against Tottenham quite well, Man Utd lost 2-0 to Spurs on Saturday with a Pape Sarr strike and a Lisandro Martinez own goal giving Ange Postecoglou his first Premier League win.

Man Utd could’ve easily had a couple of goals before the Tottenham opener in the 49th minute with Postecoglou’s side much improved in the second half.

The Red Devils struggled at times out of possession with their midfield drawing criticism from Roy Keane and Neville on Saturday.

And former defender Neville insists Man Utd must improve their midfield before the transfer deadline or face “big problems” for the rest of the season.

“Casemiro looks lost in midfield in these first two matches,” Neville said during commentary for Sky Sports.

READ MORE: Ten Hag won’t last the season at ‘sh*t’ Man Utd and ‘what a f*cking change’ at Tottenham

“What’s clear is that Manchester United’s midfield needs bolstering.

“Ten Hag wants a number six who can play alongside Casemiro and at the moment the club can’t get players out to be able to fund that.

“If they look at the first two weeks, they have to fund it or there will be big problems. What’s clear is that Ten Hag doesn’t want to revert back to Scott McTominay.

Neville added: “With Bruno on the right, the midfield looks all over the place and the front three doesn’t capable of functioning as one. Does he go back to McTominay? Ten Hag has made five substitutions and not used him. It’s almost as if he is managing him out of the club.”

But Erik ten Hag had a completely different take on his midfield’s performance, he said: “The midfield played well. It was good. Of course, we can always do better but you go for goal and leave some spaces.

“In the defence transition we were better but that was nothing to do with the two midfield players. It had more to do with the defence squeeze and coming in three lanes to be compact from the far side and in the moment from losing the ball, to get back in position from your striker and No 10.”

On their overall performance, Ten Hag added: “I liked it first half, it was a very good performance of Manchester United except we have to score. We created good chances. We had a really good press on the ball, we had good switches, many chances to score and we deserved a penalty.

“I don’t know why it’s not a penalty. He changes the direction of the ball, the hand is right above. But it’s OK, you have to accept it.

“The change in the game is, first we get quickly three bookings – can’t happen. We have to stay focused. Unnecessary bookings. Then we switch off. In one attack they have two big chances. That was no good.

“The start of the second half was definitely no good. You have to stay on the front foot. It was totally unnecessary to concede that goal.

“We didn’t collapse, we fought back but didn’t score.”