4-4-2 formation: Gary Neville tells Sir Jim Ratcliffe what Man Utd must do this summer

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has delivered a strong message to INEOS ahead of a crucial summer transfer window.

Neville expects Michael Carrick to get the full-time job at Man United after securing a return to the UEFA Champions League by beating Liverpool yesterday.

The 51-year-old has laid out a clear blueprint for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team to strengthen the squad this summer.

He said (via Sky Sports): “He (Carrick) will know he needs to rebuild the defence and midfield. If you’re going to play 4-4-2, which I am massively in favour of United doing, you have to have two very special players in there and have defenders who can play one-on-one.

“I think United need a left-back for next season because Luke Shaw has played every game this year and he may struggle. They need a centre-back, 100%, and they need two midfield players.

“They are the four priorities right now. They’re the players I would look at adding to this squad.”

Big summer awaits Man United

The 2025 transfer window was a masterstroke from INEOS.

They struck gold with the signings of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens.

The transformation on the pitch has been evident, with United now looking set to secure third place after a dismal 15th-place finish last season.

Another strong summer window could elevate United into genuine title contenders.

It is no secret that the Red Devils are prioritising the addition of at least two midfielders this summer.

Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton, Alex Scott, Joao Gomes and a few others are on their transfer shortlist.

We agree that recruiting a proven left-back is also essential, particularly with a congested fixture schedule looming next season.

Luke Shaw has started every Premier League game this season but relying on him to play twice a week could prove risky.

Ideally, adding a new centre-back would further solidify the defence, given the injury concerns surrounding Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.

That said, it is more of a desirable upgrade than an absolute necessity.

We believe United must strengthen their attack by signing a dynamic winger capable of consistently beating full-backs.

INEOS appear close to building something special at Old Trafford, but another flawless recruitment window will be crucial if they are to mount a serious title challenge.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .