The Red Devils suffered their third defeat in five Premier League games after a 3-1 home reverse against Brighton on Saturday (16.09.23) and the Sky Sports pundit thinks the Old Trafford club failed to strengthen sufficiently in the summer transfer window.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former United defender said: "I was worried at the start of the season.

"There was this feeling Manchester United had got their business done early in the transfer window and that was good, but I was concerned the players they had brought in wouldn't improve them from last season.

"I never thought for one second they would challenge Manchester City and Arsenal from the players that they brought in.

"That would have needed a Harry Kane-type signing or Declan Rice, as an example. They didn't have the money to do those types of signings."

Neville explained that the Brighton loss did not come as a surprise to himself and match-going Manchester United fans.

He said: "They're not very good at the moment. There's no hysteria. I went to the Brighton game as a fan thinking, 'Could I be surprised?'.

"You're always optimistic. I have never walked over that forecourt at Old Trafford and not been optimistic because that's the job of a football fan going to any ground where you support your team.

"But 72,000 Manchester United fans in that stadium, who are informed and know Brighton and know their current team, I don't think any of them were surprised at what they saw.

"Before the game there was that feeling of, 'Let's see what happens', 'Take a point', those sort of comments speaking to people as you go in."