Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Joshua Zirkzee, Manchester United, Paul Scholes, Football, Premier League
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has criticised another new signing while questioning the club's transfer business over the summer.
The former United midfielder recently appeared on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, and it's safe to say he is not best pleased with his former side's recruitment policy or their recent performances.
Scholes, who has 11 Premier League trophies to his name, left United in 2013 after securing his final title following a shock return from his previous retirement in 2011.
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Similar to several of his former teammates, he is involved with League One side Salford City. Since hanging up his boots, he also tried to turn his hand to management with Oldham Athletic in March 2019 but lasted a mere 31 days in charge.
Despite this, he has not been shy in his assessment of United's recruitment policy, following a summer spend of over £175m on Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro.
He addressed the issue of transfers on The Overlap, saying: "Coaches are control freaks, they want to do everything. If you were [assistant coach] Ruud [van Nistelrooy] watching that, he is maybe thinking, 'I will take a back seat, I don't want to get involved in that.'"
Van Nistelrooy is thought to be the dressing room's preferred choice of manager if Ten Hag was to depart Old Trafford and Scholes believes the Dutch striker wouldn't have signed Zirkzee if it was up to him.
"He also has to be involved in the recruitment side of it, signing a centre forward. Or two centre forwards. 'Ruud, who do you think?' I am not sure he would have picked Zirkzee," added Scholes.
"I am not sure he would have picked [Rasmus] Hojlund. Look, there is probably not a plethora of centre forwards out there, but you would go consult him, wouldn't you?"
Zirkzee has netted just once, against Fulham, since his arrival from Bologna with fans viewing him as more of a creative player than the goalscoring centre forward they expected.
Earlier this season, Scholes also criticised defender De Ligt, saying: "When you bring players in, you expect them to be a lot better than who you’ve already got.
"I don't see players coming in who are a big difference. De Ligt has come in for [Harry] Maguire, let's say, but there's no big difference there."
De Ligt will no doubt be hoping to improve his fortunes. Historically, he has won silverware everywhere he's played, with Eredivisie, Serie A and Bundesliga titles in his trophy cabinet.
But at United, his start has not been as expected and the Dutchman already finds himself under pressure weeks into his Old Trafford career.
