Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has claimed that Manchester United are in need of five more players if they are to challenge for the Premier League title.

Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho is keen to bring in at least two more new faces before the summer transfer market closes in nine days' time, despite already splashing out £362m on new recruits in the last four windows.

Former Liverpool man Adam insists that United are currently well short of options right across the field, however, with half a new squad of outfield players being required if they are to plug the gap on champions Manchester City.

Asked by BBC Sport how many more new signings Mourinho needs to make, Adam replied: "Five, easily. They need a new left-back, a centre-half, a holding a midfielder. [They] need to get the best out of [Alexis] Sanchez somehow. Do they need to get another behind [Romelu] Lukaku?"

By comparison, Adam feels that former side Liverpool are just 'one or two players' light from competing for the top-flight crown.