Andy Cole agrees with Ralf Rangnick over Man Utd rebuild under Erik ten Hag

Manchester United hero Andy Cole says Erik ten Hag will need at least five transfer windows in order to get his team where he wants it.

The 50-year-old admitted he was worried about the task before the Dutchman, whose three-year deal with United was announced on Thursday. But he outlined that a rise back to the top will only come with a long-term mindset.

Cole said he was looking forward to seeing how Ten Hag does in the Old Trafford dugout after doing “a fantastic job at Ajax”. That said, the overhaul job needed will not take one summer transfer window to rectify, he added.

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He told bookmakers.co.uk: “Hopefully, he is going to be the right fit and he's going to bring in the right players to start moving the club forward. But, if you are listening to what the interim manager (Ralf Rangnick) said, he believes they are six years behind Liverpool.

“So, four or five transfer windows are not going to be enough. At the moment, Manchester City and Liverpool are fighting it out and Manchester United need to get to that level. It doesn't happen overnight.”

While Cole conceded that there needs to be personnel changes in the United squad, he said it is ultimately up to ten Hag to decipher where those alterations need to be made. He continued: “Those decisions have got to be made by the people at the football club and the new manager.

“I don't think it is a case of what United are going to do this summer, because one summer window is not going to rectify what has gone on in the last seven to nine years. It's going to be another building process for the club.

He added: “Does it worry me? Yes, it does. But ultimately look at how long it