Gary Neville has told Manchester United copy Liverpool and make a Virgil van Dijk-esque signing to follow in the Reds' footsteps to Premier League glory.
Jurgen Klopp splashed £75million to bring defender van Dijk to Anfield in January 2018, which turned Liverpool from top four challengers into Premier League champions.
United had hoped that Harry Maguire would provide a similar backbone at Old Trafford but a lack of consistently impressive partner has prevented that from happening.
The Red Devils have shown glimpses of a title hopeful in recent weeks with Bruno Fernandes bedding in quickly and Paul Pogba returning to fitness.
And United legend Neville believes the final piece of the puzzle lies in bringing in an elite centre back.
"I think one more signing," Neville told Premier League Daily.
"You think about Liverpool signing [Virgil] Van Dijk and Alisson in goal.
"One or two more signings or [Paul] Pogba and one more signing playing to their absolute best. I think United can get closer."
When asked where in particular, Neville answered: "Centre-back, you look at the impact Van Dijk had.
"Maguire has had a really strong impact but another real strong centre-back.
"They’ve still got to be defensively sound. One more signing and United can challenge."
Alan Shearer and Ian Wright had a similar discussion on the weekend, and while the latter reckoned that title challenges were close, the former urged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to make four transfers.
The former Newcastle ace told the BBC: "I think three or four big players. Right side of midfield, possibly a centre-forward, centre-halve and maybe another midfielder."
Ian Wright added: "That’s the kind of signing (Sancho) they have to make if they’re going to be challenging City and Liverpool. Everybody is excited about Bruno Fernandes and Pogba.
"Martial and Rashford, both of them 19 goals each, last time any Man Utd players got that was Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) and (Dimitar) Berbatov.
"It seems like it’s starting to happen [for United]."
