Man United need more than Harry Kane and Declan Rice to close gap on City and Arsenal says Andy Cole

As things stand, Erik ten Hag's men find themselves locked in a battle for the top four with Newcastle and Liverpool.

United's title aspirations were dashed a long time ago, with the team currently 19 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City.

In order to enhance their Premier League title ambitions, United are set to invest over the summer.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice are two names that have been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, Cole believes the signings would not be enough to push the Red Devils into the top two.

He told the William Hill and Footy Accumulators' No Tippy Tappy Football podcast: "I still don't believe even if you brought in Harry Kane and Declan Rice that Manchester United would find themselves in a position where people are talking about them finishing second.

"There's no way Chelsea can get any worse, it's not possible, if they got any worse you might as well come out of retirement.

"Liverpool can't get any worse, Tottenham also can't get any worse, then look at Arsenal. I look at teams like that and see where Manchester City are, you've got to close the gap there first.

"For me, those two players wouldn't close the gap - United need more than two players.

"If you look at what Manchester United have brought in over the years, we've paid a premium on virtually everyone because it's Manchester United, and then a year or 18 months later the players we paid a premium for are out of the side or have gone for less than half of what we paid for them - they can't continue to do that."