Utd accused of 'criminal offence' after transfer blunder allows rivals to pounce

Manchester United were linked with a move for Gianluigi Donnarumma when it became clear that he was going to leave PSG - only to let Manchester City win the race for his signature

Paul Scholes insists it was a "criminal offence" for Manchester United to miss out on Gianluigi Donnarumma when it became apparent that his time at Paris Saint-Germain was over. There were calls for the club to go after a goalkeeper, but they missed out on signing the European champion.

Donnarumma fell out of favour in Paris and he was looking for a way out this summer with the Red Devils linked with his services. Andre Onana had not convinced in his two years at Old Trafford and his error-strewn performances had raised red flags.

The Italian was by far the best goalkeeper available during the transfer window and boasts a CV that includes victories in the Champions League and the Euros. But United didn't actively go after the ex-PSG shotstopper

They instead turned their attention to young Belgian Senne Lammens, whom they signed on deadline day for £18million. That allowed Manchester City to pounce and they signed Donnarumma despite already bringing in James Trafford from Burnley earlier in the summer.

Scholes remains stunned that his former side didn't make more effort to land the 26-year-old, insisting Onana's flaws were already well known prior to his latest blunder in the Carabao Cup loss at Grimsby, with City instead getting a major boost.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "Goalkeeper was [also] a major issue. Did they really need to get to the Grimsby game to realise [Andre] Onana is not good enough?

"If Manchester United were not in the market for Gianluigi Donnarumma when he became available, that is criminal offence. The recruitment side went to buy forwards. That did need addressing, but did it need three of them? I'm not sure it did.”

Donnarumma made his debut in the Manchester derby at the weekend and kept a clean sheet as City won comfortably 3-0. He produced a stellar save in the second-half to deny Bryan Mbeumo, underlining the value he will bring to Pep Guardiola's outfit.

Ruben Amorim meanwhile has Lammens, Tom Heaton and current No 1 Altay Bayindir to pick from - but none of that trio have yet convinced or remain unknown quantities.

The United boss admitted, after Onana was surprisingly allowed to leave on loan after deadline day, that it was time for a change in goal. He said: "Sometimes things are not working in some environments, some moments. I think we, as a club, and Andre felt it was a moment to do a little change. We don't know the future, but it was time to change Onana."