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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane does not believe Louis van Gaal's side will be able to overtake Chelsea this season.
The Red Devils have strengthened significantly this summer, and made several shrewd signings, but the ex-Republic of Ireland international doubts whether it will be enough to overhaul Jose Mourinho's men, who finished 17 points ahead of United last term.
"I don't think the spine of United is strong enough, I still think they need a centre-half maybe. United will no doubt be better next year, they'll need to be stronger out of the blocks, but if I was a betting man, which I'm not, I'd still go with Chelsea.
"Chelsea are the team to beat; with the strongest spine. I think they're after the boy [John] Stones too, and if they add him, if Chelsea players show the same hunger and desire they did last year, they'll win the league."
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Keane has also questioned United's transfer business and claimed that Van Gaal could struggle to help the likes of Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian and Sergio Romero bed into life at Old Trafford.
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"United have gone away from what they were about; they are a bit like the late 80s, buying a lot of players thinking they will gel but it doesn't happen that quickly, as much as they'll definitely be stronger this year," he added.
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