Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has accused the club hierarchy of showing a lack of ambition after a disappointing start to the season.
Scholes claimed manager Michael Carrick has been let down by senior executives following a summer transfer window that leaves United struggling in 12th place in the Premier League.
United have managed just one win from their opening five league fixtures, beating promoted side Ipswich Town 5-2. They have suffered defeats to Hull City and Manchester City, drawn with Everton and Fulham, and suffered an early exit from the Carabao Cup.
Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles during a celebrated playing career at Old Trafford, voiced his growing concerns alongside former teammate Nicky Butt on The Good, The Bat & The Football podcast.
Speaking on the podcast, Scholes said it felt sad to admit that Manchester United are no longer recruiting to win titles. He argued that the club appears to be consolidating rather than building on Carrick's achievement of guiding United to a third-place finish last season.
"It feels quite sad to say this but Man United are a club now that are not trying to win the league with recruitment," Scholes said. "I think they're just trying to consolidate from what Michael did last year, which is hard to get your head around."
"Were United trying to buy an Elliot Anderson? Probably," Scholes added. "Now that's a signing where you think that might help you get a lot better. The players they've bought aren't making them any better."
Failed pursuit of midfield targets
United pursued a modest transfer policy over the summer after veteran midfielder Casemiro departed for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami and Manuel Ugarte was sidelined by injury while deemed not good enough. Carrick identified Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and Sporting midfielder Mateus Fernandes as his primary transfer targets.
However, United missed out on both top targets to Premier League rivals. Anderson joined Manchester City in a £116million deal, while Fernandes chose Tottenham Hotspur ahead of United in an £85million transfer.
United also considered Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali and Newcastle teammate Bruno Guimaraes. Club officials baulked at the required transfer fees, allowing Tonali to join Tottenham for £92.5million and Guimaraes to move to Arsenal for £75million.
Instead of securing their initial targets, United completed the £70million signing of Cameroon international Carlos Baleba, who arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion with an ankle injury and has yet to feature. They also brought in Andrey Santos for £48million, Youri Tielemans for £35million, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer.
Santos has started just once for United after making only 11 appearances for Chelsea prior to his move. Scholes questioned whether the new arrivals genuinely improve the squad compared to high-calibre targets.
"Santos, Baleba, they've brought players in that physically they may be better," Scholes said. "Santos played 11 games for Chelsea, they paid £50million for him. But he's not getting into the team, now Baleba might make a bit of difference. But again, if you're recruiting at the start of the season for Manchester United, it should be for players that you think you can go and win the league with. I think they're a million miles away."
Carrick had also requested a new left back during the transfer window. However, the hierarchy failed to secure cover or a long-term successor for 31-year-old defender Luke Shaw.
Striker dilemmas and tactical frustrations
The forward line has emerged as a major source of frustration for both Scholes and Butt. United were open to letting Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee leave in the summer, but a proposed transfer failed to materialise before the deadline.
With frontline striker Benjamin Sesko out injured, Carrick has remained reluctant to rely on Zirkzee, limiting the 24-year-old to just two substitute appearances in the Premier League. Instead, Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha has been fielded as a central striker.
Butt argued that deploying Cunha out of position undermines the player's natural strengths and exposes United's lack of depth up front.
"Playing Cunha as a nine - it kills him, he's not a nine," Butt said. "He's nowhere near the player he is when he's playing off the side. We haven't got a number nine other than (Benjamin) Sesko. Zirkzee doesn't look anywhere near a Man United number nine. How can Man United have one centre forward that they can rely on?"
Scholes emphasized that Carrick deserved stronger backing after guiding the team to third place last term, noting that the opening weeks of the season are vital for establishing momentum.
"Michael must be really disappointed with what has happened in the summer," Scholes said. "I reckon behind the scenes he thinks he's been let down. What Michael did last year was very, very good. The most important time for Michael was the start of this season. These games now are where you put a marker down, it gives you a foundation for the rest of the season."
Questions over INEOS hierarchy and strategy
The criticism comes during a turbulent period for Manchester United's executive leadership under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group, which assumed control of football operations in February 2024. The club has already parted ways with two managers under INEOS management.
Erik ten Hag was dismissed in October 2024, just three months after signing a contract extension. His successor, Ruben Amorim, was relieved of his duties in January this year after spending 14 months in charge before Carrick took the helm.
Butt expressed frustration at the management decisions made by senior executives, questioning whether the board is capable of directing football strategy.
"As a fan, the bit that gets me, I no longer think 'it's a no-brainer we're going to win this game'," Butt said. "Who can you point the finger at, and for me, it has to be the people upstairs that are pointing the people into place to pick the managers, the players, the coaches."
Butt specifically pointed to public statements made by chief executive Omar Berrada regarding long-term ambitions. "(Omar) Berrada the CEO said they're going to win the league by 2028. That's never going to happen the way it's going, never in a million years," Butt stated.
"Without literally ripping them to shreds, it has to be said they've come in, they gave Ten Hag an extra few years on his contract, that didn't work," Butt added. "They went and got two other managers after that and it's still not working. There's got to be a real question being asked - is it being run right off the pitch, in recruitment and then that translates onto the pitch. So it's a massive big problem I think."
Scholes concluded by warning that repeatedly changing managers will not solve the club's structural issues, urging decision-makers to rethink their approach to squad assembly.
"I don't think we can keep blaming managers all the time," Scholes said. "You can't just keep going through managers like we are doing. Recruitment will have an awful lot to answer for, especially after this summer. Are they looking at these top targets, Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson? It feels like we're buying players just for the sake of it. It feels like they're settling for third, fourth, fifth-best signings - and that isn't good enough. I'd rather just keep the money, and say 'sure we can find someone in the academy who can do what these lads are doing'."
