Manchester United are still missing one or two quality signings before they can mount a serious title challenge.

That is the verdict of former Old Trafford star Paul Ince as the countdown continues to the Red Devils’ opening Premier League game of the season against West Ham.

The 49-year-old, who joined United from the east London club in 1989, won the Premier League twice during his six-year stint playing under Sir Alex Ferguson at United.

Now under Jose Mourinho’s command, Ince believes they will come close - but still have work to do in the transfer market before they become a force to be reckoned with.

United haven’t won the league in four years and Ince, speaking to bookmaker Paddy Power, said: “It’s going to be a big year for Mourinho.

Paul Ince during his Manchester United days (
Image:
Daily Mirror)

"I’m not saying they have to win the Premier League, because I don’t think they do, but they can’t be finishing sixth again.

"I still think they’re missing one or two players to really nail on a title chase. Mourinho will definitely want a couple more in – but it isn’t going to be Gareth Bale, let’s be realistic. He wants to stay at Real Madrid, so any talk about him coming is pointless.

"From a goalscoring point of view, I don’t think they’ll get enough – they’re not quite there.

"Last season, they were so dependent on Zlatan. They didn’t get enough goals from the middle of the park, or even from the defence.

"When I was at the club, you could guarantee that players like Denis Irwin would get you seven goals a season.

"I don’t see that with United now, they don’t create enough chances.

"Nemanja Matic isn’t a goalscoring midfielder, Ander Herrera doesn’t get enough – nor does Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba, or Jesse Lingard, and Marcus Rashford needs to score more, too.”