Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney believes the Red Devils can close the gap on champions Manchester City, should they make a couple of more signings before the transfer deadline. United experienced their best-ever season since the Alex Ferguson era last term but they were still 19 points off the Citizens, who won the league breaking several records.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Rooney said that the Citizens are once more the favourites for the Premier League crown but he remains hopeful of United catching them with a couple of late signings, he said: “I hope someone can catch them – it would be nice, so hopefully Manchester United can. I think maybe another signing or two. I am sure Jose [Mourinho] has been getting the team right. I know there has been a lot of talk about pre-season in the press but I am sure behind the scenes, Jose has been giving them the right amount of work.”

United begun their transfer business in an impressive fashion as they wrapped up the services of Diogo Dalot and Fred before the summer World Cup and there has since been little activity around the club with veteran goalkeeper Lee Grant being the sole arrival. As a result, Jose Mourinho has expressed his discontent over the situation but so far, there have been no signs to suggest that United could make more signings.

Mourinho is understood to have earmarked the need for a new centre-back before Thursday’s transfer deadline but as things stand, they are far off from finalising an agreement for any of their targets. Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld and Leicester City’s Harry Maguire were linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier last month but the focus now seems to have gone towards acquiring the signature of Jerome Boateng from Bayern Munich.