Paul Scholes blasts Manchester United transfer window, singles out missed Donnarumma move

Paul Scholes sharply criticised Manchester United's summer transfer business and goalkeeper decisions on Tuesday, calling the failure to pursue Gianluigi Donnarumma the club's biggest mistake after United's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City.

United legend Scholes said the club's recruitment choices were laid bare by the derby loss and the Red Devils' sluggish start to the season, during which they have taken four points from four Premier League games and suffered a shock Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town. The Old Trafford club spent in excess of £200 million this summer on four major additions, including Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Scholes focused much of his criticism on United's handling of the goalkeeper position. Lammens, who joined for about €20 million (reported £18.2 million) on deadline day, was left on the bench for the derby as Altay Bayindir kept his place. Andre Onana, who made errors in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby, was loaned to Trabzonspor last week.

"Goalkeeper as well was a major issue," Scholes said on the BBC Football Daily podcast. "It felt like they got to that Grimsby game, did you really need to get to that Grimsby game to realise Onana has not been good enough? Then you see someone like Donnarumma come up and you think right this is a chance. We can buy a keeper here for £35m to £40m who we've got for the next 10 years."

Donnarumma, released by Paris Saint-Germain after the arrival of Lucas Chevalier, was signed by Manchester City for a reported £26 million and made his debut in the derby. Scholes said United should have moved to sign the Italy international as soon as he became available. "If Man United were not in the market for Donnarumma when he became available, that's a criminal offence for me," Scholes said. "The Donnarumma one is the biggest mistake that I can see. As soon as that man became available, drive to Paris, go and get him, give him whatever whatever he wants."

On The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast later, Scholes reiterated his view that the fee for Lammens suggested he was not a top goalkeeper. "It (the fee) tells me he's not a top goalkeeper," Scholes said. "And if he is a top goalkeeper, he's playing, he's straight into the big game. Because we know United have got big, big problems in goal."

Scholes also criticised United's outlay elsewhere, arguing the club prioritised forward reinforcements over midfield reinforcement that he believed was required. United were repeatedly exposed in midfield during the derby as Manuel Ugarte struggled alongside Bruno Fernandes, who has frequently been deployed in a deeper role this season.

"All summer I thought a central midfield player with legs, who can play and can control a game of football will be an absolute priority," Scholes said. "Then the recruitment side went to buy forwards. The forward side did need addressing, did it need three of them though? I'm not sure if it did."

United sit 14th in the Premier League standings and return to action on Saturday when they host Chelsea. They face Brentford and Sunderland before the international break.

Club officials have not publicly responded to Scholes's comments. Scholes, a midfielder who won 11 Premier League titles with United, has frequently spoken about the club's transfer strategy since retiring from playing and in recent years has been an outspoken critic when he sees recruitment shortcomings.