Paul Scholes says Manchester United must solve a glaring midfield deficit by pursuing Sandro Tonali this summer, arguing the Newcastle midfielder’s Premier League experience and playmaking profile would address the club’s deepest weakness — while also urging England to give Kobbie Mainoo minutes at the World Cup to accelerate his development.
Scholes urges Manchester United to target Sandro Tonali
Paul Scholes has put Sandro Tonali at the top of Manchester United’s shopping list, arguing the club’s central midfield is “a big problem” and needs immediate reinforcements. United’s midfield vacancy — sharpened by Casemiro’s exit — has been exposed this season as the team struggled to control games and transition effectively from defence to attack.
Why Tonali fits the brief
Tonali offers Premier League-proven composure and a cultured passing range that would help United progress the ball through the thirds. He combines a measured tempo with the ability to step into midfield pockets, qualities United have lacked since drifting away from a reliable deep-lying metronome. Scholes sees Tonali as a player who understands the league and could slot in without a lengthy adaptation period.
Profile and caveats
The Newcastle midfielder is valued at around £90–100m and has two years on his contract, which will push the transfer into the significant-investment bracket. Tonali’s game is more about control and intelligence than raw physicality; that stylistic shift would change United’s midfield balance and require complementary signings if they want both bite and creativity. There are also injury/availability caveats in his recent history that should be assessed, but his technical ceiling is clear.
Transfer market realities: can United deliver?
Manchester United faces stiff competition for midfield targets, with Spurs, Arsenal and Juventus reportedly interested in Tonali. Internally, the club must decide whether to open the wallet for a marquee signing or pursue younger, potentially cheaper alternatives such as Adam Wharton or other dynamic profiles. Scholes’ public endorsement raises the narrative pressure on the board: invest to challenge next season or risk another campaign of unfulfilled potential.
The strategic choice
Signing Tonali would be a statement of intent — a move that prioritises control and ball progression. But United must weigh immediate impact against long-term squad construction: will the manager build a midfield around Tonali’s style, or will they seek a more combative presence alongside him? That decision will define United’s tactical identity next season.
Scholes wants Kobbie Mainoo to get World Cup minutes for England
Scholes also urged England’s management to give Kobbie Mainoo an opportunity in the World Cup knockout round, arguing the Manchester United midfielder can better link midfield to the attacking line than the current pairing. Mainoo has not yet featured in the tournament, but Scholes believes his technical intelligence and willingness to take risks would help unlock England’s forward players.
What Mainoo brings
Mainoo offers a blend of vision, passing quality and a calmness on the ball that accelerates transitions. Against a compact opposition, his ability to progress play through the thirds could create the necessary pockets for forwards to exploit. Scholes notes Mainoo’s stamina and technical consistency, challenging the narrative that he is limited by mobility.
Implications for club and country
If Mainoo is introduced and performs, the immediate reward is tactical variety for England; the longer-term gain is increased confidence and momentum for United before the transfer window opens. Conversely, if Elliot Anderson completes a move elsewhere, a public battle between Mainoo and Anderson next season would become a compelling subplot in Manchester’s midfield rivalry.
What this all means for Manchester United
Scholes’ intervention crystallises a central question for United: will the club prioritise midfield control with a high-profile, costly acquisition, or assemble a more balanced, possibly cheaper unit? Tonali ticks many boxes for a team that needs to dictate games rather than merely react in them, but the price tag and fit with the manager’s system remain decisive.
Next steps
Expect Manchester United to assess midfield targets across skill sets and price points, while monitoring Tonali’s availability and competing offers. For England, the coming World Cup selection decisions will reveal whether managers value Mainoo’s creative risk-taking in a knockout scenario.
Bottom line
Paul Scholes’ recommendations are driven by a clear diagnosis: United lack midfield control and must either spend to fix it or continue to underdeliver. Tonali represents an immediate, Premier League-tested remedy; Kobbie Mainoo’s international minutes would accelerate a promising young talent’s readiness for a pivotal club season.
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Both calls place the midfield at the centre of Manchester United’s short-term success and long-term identity.
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