Gary Neville believes the long-winded takeover situation surrounding Manchester United could affect their ability to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
The sale process of United by the Glazers has been ongoing for months, with frustration growing among supporters by slow progress. The American family have set three deadlines for offers over the past few months, with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani reportedly tabling an '11th hour' offer last week.
Recent reports have suggested the process could extend into the summer, and transfer plans will likely be affected with the window opening in early June. Erik ten Hag admitted at the start of May that he is in the dark with regards to his summer budget, which could put him on the back foot as those around him make plans.
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Asked who will emerge as the likely challengers for Manchester City's Premier League title next season, Neville singled out Liverpool and chose not to include his former side.
"The reason I’ve not said Manchester United right now is there’s going to be a lot of turbulence in Manchester in the next four to six weeks," Neville told Sky Sports. "Obviously the Glazers are at some point going to make a decision if they get their act together - it’s pathetic, what they’re doing.
"At some point the new owners are going to come in and they’re going to need to get their feet under the table. To actually think they’re going to challenge in their first season, it could happen, but I think there’s going to be so much turbulence in terms of the recruitment and what’s happening."
United were on the cusp of challenging as recently as March, before a run of one point from three games saw them drop off the pace. But Ten Hag's debut season has been a successful one, with the Carabao Cup secured and Champions League football confirmed with a point from their final two games.
And it is with that base that Jamie Carragher believes they can build on in the summer, with the ex-Liverpool captain including the Reds in his main challengers.
"I’m gonna go with Liverpool and Manchester United," Carragher added. "I think Liverpool will come back and I agree with Gary [Neville], the jump in terms of really challenging Man City may be a little bit too big - it might still be a little too big for Manchester United. But, I do see those two teams.
"Where Manchester United are going they look really solid. If they get a couple of attacking players and score more goals, that’s what they need to do. Liverpool will invest again in midfield players and they’ve got players who’ve won the biggest trophies before, so I’d say Liverpool and Manchester United."
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