Paul Scholes questions Man Utd’s transfers and claims Ruud van Nistelrooy would not have signed two of club’s big-money buys

The Red Devils made a couple of attacking signings in the past two seasons with Rasmus Hojlund joining the club from Atalanta last summer and Joshua Zirkzee coming to Old Trafford from Bologna ahead of the 2024/25 season. The Danish forward experienced a slow start to life in England before hitting a purple patch midway into the second. He ended up scoring 16 goals across all competitions in 43 appearances. In the current season, the striker was initially sidelined due to an injury but has now returned to action and appeared in United’s last three matches.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Zirkzee, on the other hand, got off to a dream start having scored on his debut against Fulham, however, since then he has experienced a dry spell and is without a goal in his last seven appearances. While raising questions on the club’s recruitment policy, Scholes claimed that Erik ten Hag should consult his assistant and another club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy while making transfer decisions.

• • WHAT PAUL SCHOLES SAID

    Speaking to the Mirror, the former England midfielder said, “Coaches are control freaks, they want to do everything. If you were Ruud watching that, he is maybe thinking, ‘I will take a back seat, I don’t want to get involved in that.’ 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. I am not sure he would have picked Hojlund. Look, there is probably not a plethora of centre forwards out there but you would go consult him, wouldn’t you?”

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    WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

    Ten Hag’s side will aim to get back to winning ways on Thursday as they are all set to take on FC Porto in an away Europa League fixture.