Man Utd 'need to buy seven players' under Carrick this summer, says Butt

Nicky Butt believes Manchester United need to give the managerial job to Michael Carrick and go out to buy seven players this summer.

Victory over Liverpool on Sunday secured a Champions League place for United next season, and Butt believes that the team now needs to act fast.

He says that Kobbie Mainoo will be a key player but they "need to start getting some players in around him" said the former United midfielder.

And he feels they can't afford to wait to agree a deal with Carrick. He said: "The club has to select the manager now, not in three weeks time but now, and I'd like to think after the result (against Liverpool) they will be having a meeting with Michael because they need to sign seven players."

United have had the benefit of not playing in Europe this season and Butt says they need to have more strength in depth as well as players for the first 11.

"They've done great for three months but they are still way off winning the league, they are still way of winning and competing at the highest level," said Butt

"I think they need seven players, not for the starting 11 but for the squad. You look what happened against Leeds when there were a few players missing.

"I think they need to buy a midfielder, a centre back, they need a right back, they need another centre forward they can't rely on one centre forward so that is four straight away and they need three squad players as well."

Carrick says that he feels "quite natural" in the role of manager, when asked about his future.

"It’s been a good run I think we’ve obviously beaten some very good teams and it has been challenging, some ways we have won in one way and sometimes in other ways," said Carrick.

"I love doing what I am doing, it is a great position to be in, it feels quite natural if I’m not being blaze as it is a difficult role, but it feels like I’ve been here a long time, in different times on and off but I understand what it means to be sat in this position."

Carrick isn't getting carried away with the results so far and believes that qualifying for the Champions League is only a "step".

"To get in the Champions League with three games to go is a good achievement, I see it as just a step though, we are not over celebrating it, whatever will happen will happen, I can only do my best for the club and the players especially and try and help them as best we can and see what happens after that," he said.

"It’s a big step, there are signs of improvement and being in the position where we are with three games to go, there is a lot of satisfaction which comes with that but that can’t be everything.

"There has to be a lot of credit for the staff and the players for doing that but we want a lot more and that is the message to push on and keep improving."