Scholes Questions Man United’s Transfer Strategy After Andrey Santos Signing

Former Red Devil Criticises Summer Midfield Rebuild

Paul Scholes has taken aim at Manchester United’s recruitment strategy, questioning the decision to sign Andrey Santos this summer.

United overhauled their midfield following Casemiro’s departure as a free agent and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury. Having been linked with pricier alternatives such as Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Mateus Fernandes, the club eventually opted for Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba instead.

While the Brazilian impressed in flashes during pre-season, he has since found it difficult to force his way into Michael Carrick’s first-choice eleven.

Scholes Says United Are ‘A Million Miles Away’

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes suggested that despite his physical attributes, Santos lacks the qualities needed to turn United into genuine title contenders. He pointed out that the midfielder made just 11 appearances for Chelsea before United paid £50 million for his services, a fee he feels is difficult to justify given his limited game time.

The United legend argued that current recruitment doesn’t reflect the ambitions of a club chasing the Premier League crown, branding the Red Devils “a million miles away” from where they need to be.

An Alternative View

It’s worth noting Santos is only 22 and still developing. A versatile operator who can play deeper or in a box-to-box capacity, he possesses genuine technical quality, an eye for a defence-splitting pass, and solid defensive instincts. Patience may yet be rewarded here — plenty of talented youngsters need time to adapt to Premier League intensity before showing their true worth.

United’s struggles extend well beyond one signing, though. Having finished third last term, they’ve endured a torrid start to this campaign, sitting in the bottom half with just five points from five games and already dumped out of the Carabao Cup. Carrick’s men now face a testing trip to face out-of-form Tottenham after the international break.