Man Utd news: Owen Hargreaves warns club needs ‘surgery’ despite Erik ten Hag appointment

So says former Reds midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who says a “lack of strategy and plan” has cost United dearly in recent years.

United’s four best hopes were dealt a hammer blow on Saturday when they were pinned at home by Leicester City.

With a Europa League berth as United’s most realistic finish, the club are set for a summer upheaval as Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard leave on free transfers.

They are just four of 11 players who could leave while the club must appoint a new long-term manager.

“I’m not surprised, they’ve been drifting for years,” Hargreaves told Premier League Productions.

‘They’ve been drifting since Sir Alex left. There is a lack of strategy and plan. They have spent £1.2bn on this group of players and they are unable to say there is a blueprint there.

“United will have to have another operation in the summer. Paul Pogba will leave, Edinson Cavani will leave. Who is the manager? Who is the athletic director? You’ll have to spend more money on the group because you’re not in the top four. I thought today would be a problem, but the whole season has been a problem. You stopped playing for Ole. They could have achieved more than today because it was a must for the top four.

“It takes a lot of work. They talk about Rangnick, Solskjaer or whatever, but it takes a lot of work and it starts at the top – they have to get there right at the top. They need to get the boss of football right, then the coach right and then the squad right so they have a blueprint of how they want to go about it and sign some top players because today isn’t about that.

Erik ten Hag is the favorite to take over at Old Trafford despite facing competition from Mauricio Pochettino.

Both men are keen to be appointed and have been interviewed by the club.

MORE : Gary Neville explains Manchester United’s best four chances are over

For more stories like this, visit our sports page.