Manchester United Double winner Paul Ince doesn't believe his old team are title contenders.

Ince believes Cristiano Ronaldo's return to United is a “great bit of business" for the club but fears it is not enough to make them contenders.

“I think United needed a lift," Ince told the PA news agency. “You thought if Manchester City got Harry Kane it was going to be all over. Then (Romelu) Lukaku goes to Chelsea and you think, 'Wow'. United needed a centre-forward for sure.

“Then suddenly, bam, Ronnie's back in town and comes to Old Trafford. It's great for United fans, it's great for the team. You put him alongside (Raphael) Varane and they are serial winners."

He added: "Even with Ronnie I still think United are a bit behind City and Chelsea, but they are a lot closer than they would have been.

"The midfield is an area that's not really been touched…(Jadon) Sancho is going to be a top player, but surely the priority should have been to get a top-class midfielder. I don't think we've got that.

"If you look at the spine of the team, you've got (Harry) Maguire and Varane at the back and the likes of Ronaldo and Rashford up top, it looks strong, but in that middle area it looks a little bit open."