Manchester United hero Gary Neville has told Old Trafford chiefs that they need to sign two new central midfielders, a new striker, a winger, and a left-back.
The squad needs revamping if the club wants to be competing at the top of the table once again, but it could take until January 2021 before the right players are in place, he said.
Gary Neville’s warning came after United lost 2-0 at West Ham on Sunday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team have now failed to win in seven consecutive away league matches, which equals the club record set by Louis van Gaal’s team.
“I’m not panicking as a fan. I’m frustrated but not panicking,” Neville wrote on Sky Sports.
“What I would say is they have to quickly and efficiently identify three or four players to go alongside [David] De Gea and [Harry] Maguire.
“They need a couple of midfield players, they need a striker to carry the front line, they need a wide player and they need a left-back.
“You can’t kid football fans. There are five or six players required.
“They have to be the right type and that might take 18 months because they might not be able to get the players they want.
“If the right player comes up, they are just going to have to go and get them because it’s been proven: buy badly, buy twice.
“Maguire is a ‘buy once’ sort of signing – I think he’s the type of player who will be at Man Utd for five or six years. You can build around him. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mentioned before the game about him potentially being captain.
“But they have to find players who want to come to the club and are hungry, but who can raise the quality and experience and know how, to support the young players but also the management team.”
Neville has backed Solskjaer to succeed at Old Trafford, and urged the United board to supply him with the funds he needs.
In previous years, the United hierarchy have spent big money, but on the wrong players, he added.
United are currently eighth in the league after the most recent setback at West Ham.
Solskjaer now faces the visit of Rochdale in the Carabao Cup, before hosting Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday (September 30).