Paul Scholes Slams Manchester United’s Transfer Strategy

Paul Scholes has launched a scathing assessment of Manchester United’s summer transfer business, arguing that the club failed to prioritise their most urgent needs and left Ruben Amorim without the quality to make his 3-4-3 system work.

United have endured their worst start to a league season since 1992-93, collecting just four points from their opening four games. Internal analysis concluded the club would get more value by strengthening their forward line, and £200m was spent on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. Yet, four league goals have been scored so far, with two of them coming from own goals.

Despite growing unease around Amorim’s approach, particularly after Sunday’s 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City, senior figures at Old Trafford remain supportive. They believe Amorim is the right manager to oversee a long-term rebuild and prefer not to be swayed by short-term results.

Scholes, however, believes the problems are fundamental.

“I don’t think the quality is there,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club. “Whatever two out of the four or five they have got in [midfield] – Casemiro, Bruno [Fernandes], [Kobbie] Mainoo – whatever combination he seems to try doesn’t seem to work.

“That’s a big issue. I thought all summer the absolute priority was a centre midfield player with legs, who can play and can control a game.

“Goalkeeper was [also] a major issue. Did they really need to get to the Grimsby game to realise [Andre] Onana is not good enough?

“If Manchester United were not in the market for Gianluigi Donnarumma when he became available, that is criminal offence.

“The recruitment side went to buy forwards. That did need addressing, but did it need three of them? I’m not sure it did.”

Amorim has been unwavering in his commitment to the 3-4-3 system he implemented at Sporting CP, insisting recently that “if they want it changed, you change the man.” Yet Scholes said the manager cannot continue down the same path.

“He cannot carry on playing this way, he just can’t,” said Scholes. “At some point there has to be a moment where he thinks, ‘I have to change something because what I am doing now is not working and I am not getting results’. The proof is there.

“I like Amorim, with everything he says, he seems to be a likeable man. But unfortunately results paint a picture.

“At this moment in time it isn’t good enough. At this moment in time if results don’t improve, performances don’t really matter that much. He has to win some games or the pressure is going to come on him massively.”

Wayne Rooney has echoed similar concerns, saying United have “got worse” since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag last November.

United face a challenging run of fixtures with Chelsea visiting Old Trafford on Saturday, followed by a trip to Brentford, where they have conceded four goals on each of their past two visits. Games against Sunderland and Liverpool at Anfield follow, offering little respite.