Manchester United legend Andy Cole believes that the club will not be a force in the Premier League again until they solve their defensive woes.

Louis van Gaal added plenty of attacking talent to his United squad in a summer spending spree that totalled in the region of £150m.

However, the Dutchman failed to add experienced defenders to his ranks following the departures of veterans Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic respectively.

The Red Devils have conceded 13 times in nine Premier League outings - including five at Leicester City - and Cole says that the concession of "silly goals" will undermine their ambition this season.

"I think the way Manchester United are now, they're very attack-minded," Cole, who spent six years at Old Trafford, told Perform.

"A lot of the players are attack-minded - want to score goals.

"I think at times we've conceded some silly goals, but I think if you patch up all those problems, Man United will be a force."

United sit eighth in the Premier League table, 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.