Neville claims Man Utd must wait until 2021/22 to challenge Liverpool & Man City again

Manchester United will need to wait at least two seasons before they can challenge for the Premier League title, according to Gary Neville.

The Red Devils have not won the league since 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson’s final campaign in charge, and have finished outside the Champions League places four times since, including last season.

When can Man Utd challenge for the Premier League? Five things to know…

• Manchester United have won 20 league titles, more than any other English club.
• Their last came in 2012/13, the final season of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure.
• Since then, Manchester City (3), Chelsea (2) and Leicester City have all won the league.
• Meanwhile, United have finished outside the top four in four of the past six years.
• And Gary Neville believes United are at least two years away from challenging for the title.

In that same spell, Manchester City have won three league titles, Chelsea two and Leicester City one, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as recent challengers.

After a thrilling title race last season between the pair, many expect Man City and Liverpool to be fighting for the Premier League crown once again and they currently occupy the top two spots after three games.

United, meanwhile, are fifth having picked up four points but Neville does not expect his former side to be fighting for the title any time soon.

Speaking on his podcast, Neville said: “The most important thing about the transfer window for United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is that they don’t make mistakes, not that they do loads of business, but it’s about making sure they have the right type of players.

“It may seem like too far into the distance but I would suggest four or five transfer windows to get things absolutely right and get back to the type of squad he would want to challenge these Liverpool and Man City teams.

“I’ve said before, he’s got to be ready, not at the end of this season, not next season, but the one after, to challenge for the Premier League title.”

Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.

Neville: United will need to pounce on any changes to rivals

As well as working on their own squad in each transfer window, Neville believes Man United may need to make the most of other factors to boost themselves back into the title race.

He added: “Potentially when Pep Guardiola has left Man City, or Liverpool have had another round of recruitment and another set of players in…Ole has got to be ready to pounce.

“It’s a long term thing, there’s not going to be quick fix or magic wand from any manager. United have tried David Moyes, they’ve tried Louis van Gaal, they’ve tried Jose Mourinho, all proven and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going down the long road, not the quick path.

“There’s no shortcut, there never is, and for me, it’s now about making it through these difficult moments, like losing to Crystal Palace and you feel like the world is going to fall in that but people must remain patient.”