Exclusive - Man United need to sign at least FOUR top players, warns Meulensteen

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal must splash out on at least FOUR top signings before the close of the transfer window.

That is the view of the club’s former first team coach Rene Meulensteen, who feels the current squad is not strong enough to mount a serious title challenge.

United slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea on the opening day of the Premier League season on Saturday, in what was Van Gaal’s first game at the helm, and Meulensteen insists major rebuilding work is needed at Old Trafford.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the trusted lieutenant of former boss Sir Alex Ferguson warned: "This is not going to be a quick fix. They have still got two weeks to go in this transfer window.

“They definitely need to maximise the opportunities in this window and probably in January as well.”

He continued: “We need to strengthen at the back, we need to strengthen in midfield and that is foremost the two areas they need to look at.

“In my opinion, they need to bring in at least four top players to really crank up the level.”

United adopted a 3-5-2 formation long favoured by Van Gaal against Swansea, but looked far from comfortable in the new system.

Meulensteen insists the players will get used to it, but has warned it may take a long time before Van Gaal’s methods start to work.

He added: "The 3-5-2 system can work. Any system can work if you have the right players and the players are well embedded into the system. That is not the case yet.

"It is a process that has just started. They had a very good pre-season but this process will take a long, long time before they get back to where they want to be, which is a dominant United, which plays with pace and penetration, and all these ingredients are not there yet."

Transfer rumours and paper review – Monday, August 18

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Monday's newspapers...

Manchester United are prepared to commit as much as £100million, on wages and transfer fee, to lure Angel di Maria from Real Madrid as the ailing Premier League club try to beef up Louis van Gaal’s squad before the end of the summer transfer window. (Daily Mail)

Juventus are growing increasingly confident that Manchester United will not meet their £45m asking price for Arturo Vidal this summer, with Kevin Strootman understood to be Louis Van Gaal's top defensive midfielder target. (Daily Express)

Tottenham will make a final bid for Morgan Schneiderlin before giving up on signing the wantaway Southampton midfielder. (Daily Mail)

Southampton have had a £10 million bid for England winger Andros Townsend rejected by Tottenham. (The Sun)

Ronald Koeman wants to make Lazio midfielder Alvaro Gonzalez Southampton's eighth summer signing in an £8million deal. (Daily Mirror)

Lewis Holtby will look for a move away from Tottenham before the transfer window closes after the North London club made it clear he is surplus to requirements. Managerless Crystal Palace and QPR are among the clubs keen on the midfielder. (Daily Mail)

Steve Bruce wants to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Philipp Wollscheid after missing out on Tottenham skipper Michael Dawson. (The Sun)

Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have been put on alert as Ezequiel Lavezzi's contract negotiations with PSG have broken down. (Daily Star)

Managerless Crystal Palace are ready to offer Glenn Murray plus cash for Sunderland striker Connor Wickham. (Daily Mirror)

Athletic Bilbao will miss new Manchester United star, claims Benitez

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera will be missed by Atletico Bilbao, according to Rafa Benitez.

The former Liverpool boss is in charge of the Napoli side that faces the Spanish team in a Champions League qualifier on Wednesday night.

And he says the side they come up against will only just cope without United's £34million summer signing, who tasted defeat on his competitive debut against Swansea on Saturday.

"He is a great player," Benitez said. "And his absence will surely be felt, but the strength of the team remains in its unity."

Manchester United finally set to offload flop to Napoli?

Napoli have agreed a deal with Manchester United to take midfielder Marouane Fellaini on loan for the season, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Belgian only joined Manchester United last summer, but has struggled to make an impact since his £27.5m move from Everton.

And now Napoli have reportedly agreed a £4m fee for Fellaini which will see the 26-year-old join the Serie A side on loan for the season.

It is now up to the player to decide if he wishes to complete the deal or stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place.

Napoli are hoping to have the move resolved by the end of the week, allowing them to move for other targets if necessary.

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has been touted as a possible alternative, a move which would see him link up with his former boss Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool will be in trouble if they don't sign another striker, claims Beecroft

Liverpool desperately need another striker otherwise they will be in trouble this season, according to talkSPORT's Merseyside correspondent Graham Beecroft.

The Reds eked out a 2-1 victory over Southampton on the opening day of the Premier League season, but the feeling remains they have not adequately replaced Luis Suarez yet.

The Uruguayan joined Barcelona in a £75million move earlier this summer and while many agree he is impossible to replace, Liverpool has only brought in two strikers this summer - veteran Rickie Lambert and Divock Origi, who is spending this season back on loan at Lille.

Brendan Rodgers said after the Saints win he was still looking to strengthen his squad and Beecroft believes up front must be a priority.

"Liverpool do need another striker. Brendan Rodgers is saying 'well we’ll have a look but if we don’t get another striker in this window, then there’s no panic'. Believe you me, Liverpool need a striker before the window shuts otherwise they will be in trouble as far as the season is concerned," he told Extra Time.

"It only needs an injury to Daniel Sturridge and/or Rickie Lambert and they will be in trouble, there is no question about it.

"They need quality in there. I think they’ve got the money to buy quality, it’s just a question of whether they can persuade their targets to come and sign for Liverpool Football Club but it is vital, and I repeat vital, that Liverpool do make that signing before the transfer window closes."

Liverpool saw a transfer for QPR striker Loic Remy fall through earlier in the window after a failed medical, while in recent days they have been linked with a shock move for former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o and Reds legend Steve Nicol has encouraged the club to move for Swansea forward Wilfried Bony.