Paul Scholes names eight players Man Utd players should sell in brutal takedown

Paul Scholes has named eight Manchester United players he feels the club should sell this summer as they look to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League

Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has identified eight players he reckons the club ought to offload this summer in a bid to revamp the squad. United are challenging for a Champions League place under Michael Carrick, who continues in interim control of the club on a contract until the end of the campaign.

There's been considerable demand for Carrick to accept the role on a permanent basis, though United are in no hurry to name a replacement for Ruben Amorim. The club splashed out heavily in the previous summer transfer window to prevent a repeat of last season's woeful top-flight showing.

Those acquisitions have delivered results in the broader picture, but United remains considerably short of challenging for major silverware. The continuing struggle with PSR (Profit and Sustainability Regulations) and from next season SCR (Squad Cost Ratio), means the club will need to sell in order to reconstruct.

On The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes was questioned about which players he would retain at the club, and who he would offload. Beginning with defender Leny Yoro, Scholes said: "I think he's struggled, me. I think there's something in there, I think he needs a bit of time, but if you had to make a choice now, I'd probably sell him."

He wasn't the only defender to face criticism from the ex-United midfielder. When quizzed about Noussair Mazraoui, Scholes was unequivocal: "Sell. I don't know where he fits in. He's been like a right-sided centre-half and they don't play with three centre-halves anymore. if there's three centre-halves then you'd probably have him as one of five or six but I think it's probably time to let him go now."

Turning his attention to Luke Shaw, Scholes remarked: "When he was playing consistently, I don't think there was a better left-back in the world, not just Europe. But if you're asking me now, and he's done alright appearance-wise this year, but I'd sell him. He doesn't play enough games."

Patrick Dorgu was amongst those brought in to operate within Amorim's system, yet Scholes remains unconvinced about where he belongs. He said: "They brought him in as a wing-back and he's not really played much there. I'd probably sell. I'm not sure what position he is. Again, if you keep him then he's just a squad player."

United are widely expected to strengthen their midfield options this summer, with Casemiro departing Old Trafford and the club having been linked with a number of potential replacements. Yet if Scholes had his way, the Brazilian wouldn't be the sole midfielder heading for the exit door. On Mason Mount, Scholes commented: "I'd probably sell him and I like him, he's a great footballer.

"But he's never going to play in front of Bruno Fernandes. I'm not sure what other position he could play and he doesn't play enough games." On Manuel Ugarte, Scholes said: "I think he'll go."

The former England international also tipped Joshua Zirkzee for the exit door. Harry Maguire has penned a new deal with United, with his previous contract due to run out in the summer, yet Scholes doesn't believe the England international is of sufficient quality to help the club win the league or Champions League.

"Look, I think he's been really good and he's brought himself back from the dead really," Scholes said. "I think he's been sensational with what he's done, I'm so so pleased for him, but I'm thinking about a Manchester United team you want to win the league and the Champions League and that's where United should be aiming.

"I'm not sure you'd do that with Maguire, unless you've got someone like a Rio [Ferdinand] next to him then possibly, yeah. It's Manchester United, you've got to be talking about winning the Premier League.

"If it's one of four, you'd probably take him but I'd have De Ligt in that as one of four. I think they're both quite similar but De Ligt is a little bit younger so that's on his side, he's a little bit quicker, so I'd probably just go for De Ligt."