Paul Scholes names the £40m defender Man United should sign to reach next level

Paul Scholes put forward a surprise pick when naming the "nutcase" defender he believes can take Manchester United to the next level under Michael Carrick, while also revealing the Premier League midfielder he ‘loves’.

The 2026/27 Premier League season is fast approaching, with Manchester United one of nine teams starting the campaign under new management after Carrick was made permanent boss.

The Englishman, who served as interim United boss following Ruben Amorim’s sacking last term, guided the 20-time champions to a third-place finish and, in doing so, secured Champions League qualification.

As a result, United will play at least eight more fixtures this term, and that’s without the prospect of the side progressing to the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition.

United also went out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup at the earliest stages last term, meaning they played just 40 matches overall – the fewest since 1914-15.

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But the upcoming campaign provides a completely different challenge, with 2025 summer signings Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens looking to build on impressive maiden campaigns, while new signings Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos will be looking to make an impact in midfield after their moves from Aston Villa and Chelsea.

However, speaking exclusively to SPORTbible to mark the season return of The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast , 11-time Premier League winner Scholes believes United could do with recruiting a top-class central defender to support Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire this term.

“I think centre-half is probably the biggest [area that needs addressing],” Scholes said.

“You need to have centre-halves that are reliable for the Premier League. You’d like to have them [fit enough to play] in most games. Harry Maguire not so much, but Martinez picks up a lot of injuries. They’ve got the young lad Ayden Heaven, who I think is a really bright prospect, but he’s still going to make mistakes.

“He’s young. Centre-half is a position they need to address if they are going to be challenging towards the top end [of the league].”

But the former United midfielder named a left-field shout for who he believes his former club should sign to bolster their defence and it’s not who you’d expect.

“This is one you might laugh at,” Scholes said.

“[United should sign] Cristian Romero from Tottenham. I know it might sound stupid, but I just think... I like him. I think he’s a nutcase. He’s a very good defender that does some stupid things. He is an absolute clown.

“But I think if someone could get hold of him, like Michael Carrick, who is very calm and relaxed, he might be able to [help him].

“He seems like a bit of a cult hero defender, really. I know it might sound strange, but I think the fans at Old Trafford would like him.”

Scholes added: “There’s a bit of something about him. He’s won the Europa League with Spurs, he’s won a World Cup, two Copa Americas. There’s definitely something about him....and he’s cheap, £30-40million.”

Romero has been heavily linked with a move away from Spurs this summer, with Inter and Atletico Madrid the two frontrunners to sign him despite tentative links with a shock move to rivals Arsenal.

Scholes also maintains his admiration for Sandro Tonali, although he admitted that the Italian signing for United now can’t happen due to the midfielder signing for Spurs for £100million earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, Scholes voiced how impressed he has been with Crystal Palace and England centre-midfielder Adam Wharton, describing him as someone who would “be a really good signing for United.”

With the transfer window set to shut on September 1, there’s still plenty of time for United’s footballing department to get more deals over the line, with Scholes’ former teammate-turned-podcast-co-host Nicky Butt claiming signing another striker to support Sesko may also be a wise move.

What counts as success for Man Utd and Michael Carrick this season?

Both Scholes and Butt agreed that United need to be in the Champions League for many footballing and non-footballing reasons, with Butt explaining how he thinks it may take another three or four transfer windows before the Red Devils truly challenge for the Premier League title.

“I just think Michael has got to do better than he’s done this year,” Butt said.

“That football club has to be in the Champions League… for all kinds of dynamics around the club.

“I think if they can do that [qualify for the Champions League] over the next season or two, as well as back Michael in the transfer window, then in maybe three or four transfer windows [United could challenge for the league]. I don’t think we can at the minute.”

“[Success would be] finishing in the top three and winning the FA Cup,” Scholes agreed.

United begin their Premier League campaign away against Hull on August 23.

Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt were speaking exclusively to SPORTbible for the new season of The Good, The Bad & The Football. Watch or listen to the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.