Paul Scholes refuses to accept Man United icon transfer recommendation | Football | Sport
Paul Scholes disagreed with Peter Schmeichel’s transfer recommendation (Image: The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast)
Paul Scholes has rejected former team-mate Peter Schmeichel’s recommendation that Manchester United should pursue Granit Xhaka, while Nicky Butt appears more receptive to the notion. Schmeichel believes ex-Arsenal midfielder Xhaka would be an obvious acquisition for the club as they look to reshape their midfield this summer.
The Reds are aiming to bring in at least two new central midfielders as they seek to build on securing Champions League qualification under Michael Carrick, who is now the frontrunner to take the club’s permanent head coach role after winning 10 of his 14 matches at the helm. Several midfielders have already been linked with United in recent weeks, among them Elliot Anderson, Aurelien Tchouameni, Sandro Tonali and Carlos Baleba.
Nevertheless, United legend Schmeichel believes Xhaka would be an ideal signing after watching the 33-year-old deliver an impressive 2025/26 campaign back in the Premier League with Sunderland.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, the Dane said: “I think we should go and sign Xhaka,” to which Scholes promptly said: “Noooo Pete. I have [watched him], but you’re probably in the same boat as Casemiro then, aren’t you, really?”
Schmeichel then explained: “I make my case, we are going to build a team around Kobbie. Casemiro is leaving. Bring in Wharton and Anderson or whatever, who are still young. What we don’t have really is proper leadership. When I look and see what Xhaka has done at Sunderland, he is the reason why they are absolutely amazing.
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“His leadership qualities are great, he can play 80 per cent of the games, and he is a very good player. I know he can do it. If he does one or two years, we need leadership. I know Tonali is mentioned, but has he done enough at Newcastle to warrant that. I think Xhaka would bring a lot to the dressing room and have power around the person, which is rare. We’re desperate for more leadership.”
Butt, meanwhile, echoed the sentiment that Xhaka could supply the leadership qualities United are sorely missing. “Xhaka could come in and just go, ‘well I’m not going to play every game, but I’m a squad player,’ but he will bring a lot to the squad,” he said.
Schmeichel believes Man United should consider Xhaka as an option this summer. (Image: Getty)
Xhaka has proved a revelation since linking up with the Black Cats, who have exceeded all expectations this season following their promotion via the Championship play-offs. Schmeichel insists the former Arsenal captain would instil much-needed leadership into a squad visibly lacking authority figures, beyond Harry Maguire and club captain Bruno Fernandes.
He went on: “We’re desperate for more leadership and we know, obviously we’ve been in squads where everyone was leading. We know the value of having those players in there. Harry Maguire is a fantastic leader. I do think he is. I think Bruno is.
“He’s a leader in his own way, but he’s a leader, and he leads a lot by how he plays. But then I look at the rest of the squad, you know, they’re followers. We’ve been in squads where everyone was leading. We know the value of having those players in there because on a Sunday or a Tuesday night, I always said, a Tuesday night where everything is going against you.
“You need somebody who can pull you out by the hair, the short hairs, and get you playing or find that little bit to bring you up. And that value of having that and I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I think that would be a really good thing. I want somebody like that.”
