Despite a disappointing domestic season, Manchester United still have a chance to qualify for the Champions League. However, club legend Gary Neville insists that a major squad overhaul is essential if the team is to compete for a top-four finish next season.
United currently languish in 16th place in the Premier League, making the 2024–25 campaign one of their worst in recent memory. The mid-season switch from Erik ten Hag to Ruben Amorim hasn’t improved their fortunes much, though the fact that Tottenham sit just behind them in 17th offers some consolation.
With a Europa League final on the horizon, either United or Spurs could still earn a Champions League spot. But Neville argues that long-term success hinges more on who United offload than who they sign in the summer.
He slammed the club’s recruitment efforts as “abhorrent” and suggested that high-profile names like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Casemiro could be moved on—though their substantial wages may complicate exits. Neville estimated that three or four players will leave once their contracts expire, while the club might need to financially incentivize five or six more to leave, potentially even covering part of Rashford’s £180,000-a-week salary.
Neville also cast doubt on United’s ability to attract top talent given their poor performances, financial limitations under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), and cost-cutting under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s leadership.
He also criticized the club’s track record in player development, claiming that most signings have regressed. “Apart from Bruno Fernandes, no one has really gotten better at United. It’s been a graveyard for signings over the last decade,” he said.
Nevertheless, winning the Europa League remains a potential bright spot in an otherwise grim season—especially as Tottenham, their opponents, are performing even worse, sitting at the bottom of the form table on goal difference.2024–25 mom
