Manchester United risk being relegated next season if they do not sign five stars to transform their spine, according to Paul Scholes.
The Red Devils legend has brutally called out Ruben Amorim’s squad and named one widely adored star who looks ‘lost’.
United are on course for their worst Premier League season but have at least averted talks of relegation this campaign with two wins in their last four top-flight games.
They have been accused of having a soft underbelly but did not address that in the winter transfer window, only signing wing back Patrick Dorgu and central defender Ayden Heaven, who has made one professional appearance.
‘There are a few things that are concerning. There’s a lot of stuff he (Ruben Amorim) needs to do, we all know that, especially in transfer windows, but I don’t see a core of players,’ Scholes told The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘When you look at teams, you look right down the spine of a team. Liverpool: great goalkeeper, great centre half, forwards, midfielders, whatever. I don’t think United have any of that in any position.
Manchester United risk relegation if they don’t overhaul their spine, according to Paul Scholes
He wants to see between five and seven new signings over the summer to shore them up
Scholes claimed they don’t have any great stars down the heart of Amorim’s line-up
‘I think a new goalkeeper is needed, possibly two centre halves, two centre midfield players, and two centre forwards.
‘Alright, I’ll go for one centre midfielders and one centre forward, but with a bit of stature, a bit of quality, and really create a spine. When you’ve got that spine right, then you can add bits to it.
‘That spine, that core, is so important. If they don’t get that right this summer, this might sound ridiculous, but the form since this manager is in, they could be looking at relegation. I’m telling you, it’s been so bad.’
Scholes has been a vocal critic of United and, having won 11 Premier League titles, he knows what better days look like.
In the 1999 Champions league final, the Red Devils’ spine consisted of Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, Ronny Johnsen, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Dwight Yorke, and Andy Cole.
Despite forking out more than £600million during Erik ten Hag’s reign, United have come nowhere near to constructing a team of a similar status.
They held back in the previous transfer window, with talk of saving their budget for a huge summer overhaul, but the £200m put to use at the start of this season has hardly paid off.
United’s academy has long proved a reliable source of talent, having a graduate in every matchday squad dating back to October 30, 1937.
Kobbie Mainoo looks ‘lost’ and the striker experiment did not pay off, says the United legend
United have been criticised for a lack of strength across the park despite lavish spending
Amorim will have to wait until summer for reinforcements after a quiet winter transfer window
But Scholes fears that United aren’t getting the most out of one of those stars, Kobbie Mainoo, due to confusion around his position.
Against Crystal Palace earlier this month, he was bizarrely deployed as a striker.
Scholes added: ‘I think Mainoo is lost. I’ve talked about Declan Rice being lost before – I think Mainoo is lost as well. They don’t know what to do with him.
‘I don’t think he knows where to play on a football pitch because he’s been played in one of the No 10 positions, he has been played in the two in the midfield, which I can see probably doesn’t suit him because I don’t think he’s the greatest athlete.
‘He’s a great footballer. I think the No 10 does suit, (but) the false nine, never in a million years.’
Paul Scholes was speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
