Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Manchester United they must spend as negotiations for Jadon Sancho continue.
The Norwegian has told Ed Woodward he wants the players to turn his team into Premier League title contenders next season.
Sancho is his primary target – but he wants to strengthen in midfield and defence to build on their third place finish in his first full campaign.
Ahead of Sunday’s Europa League semi final against Sevilla, he warned United will go backwards if they don’t invest.
“It’s a race,” said Solskjaer. “You can see teams building. We’re always looking at the squad and player logistics.
“It is definitely about quality – and it is going to cost money to get in players who are better than the ones we already have.
“We still have a way to go to get to the level of the teams at the top of the Premier League. They are too far ahead of us.
“We are still growing, getting better of course, but we are not the finished article. Nowhere near.”
Solskjaer has made giant strides this term, securing a return to the Champions League and reaching three semi finals.
He believes Sancho can be a superstar at Old Trafford and the club’s iconic No7 shirt is waiting for the winger.
But United remain locked in negotiations, with Borussia Dortmund’s £108million valuation a major sticking point, along with the player’s wages and agent fees.
In Pictures | Jadon Sancho training with Dortmund | 10/08/2020
Jack Grealish and Donny van de Beek are among other targets on Solskjaer’s radar, while they have also been linked with defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
Solskjaer believes United will need greater strength in depth to mount a genuine title challenge at the same time as competing in the Champions League.
But he also wants to instil a winning mentality into his side by triumphing in the Europa League.
“We want to go as far as we possibly can in this tournament,” he added. “I think we all realise we are in a special moment in history.
In Pictures | Man United train ahead of Europa League semi-final
“We still have a way to go to get to the level of the teams at the top of the Premier League. They are too far ahead of us.
“We are still growing, getting better of course, but we are not the finished article. Nowhere near.
“We want to go as far as we possibly can in this tournament. I think we all realise we are in a special moment in history.”