Gary Neville: Manchester United must spend wisely in transfer market

Gary Neville believes Manchester United will have to spend more wisely in the transfer market if they are to win the Premier League again.

Man United have spent over £200m on players such as Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata in recent years but they have failed to consistently produce performances of the required level at Old Trafford.

Chelsea, in comparison, have brought in the likes of Nemanja Matic and Juan Cuadrado and offloaded players such as David Luiz and Andre Schurrle in return for huge fees.

Neville says United will need to perform much better in terms of their recruitment if they are to prosper in future seasons.

Speaking about United’s transfers, Neville said: “I believe he will complete phase one: win a trophy and return to the Champions League. But to win the Premier League in the next two seasons he has to win the recruitment battle. In the last two campaigns United have spent £280m and recouped £54m. Chelsea have spent £313m but recouped £190m and brought in better players.

"So, post Ferguson and Gill, Chelsea are definitely trading better than United. With the Cuadrado signing Chelsea spent £24m and let Schurrle go for something similar. United will need to be equally shrewd, and not simply buy off-the-shelf players for £40m and find they don't fit.”

United have been strongly linked with a number of players in recent months including Mats Hummels and Paul Pogba and the club may well spend big in the summer. United have the money given next season’s £750m Adidas kit deal but Neville is right that any investment will need to be shrewd in order to maximise the on-field benefits in the future.