Paul Scholes Urges Manchester United to Sign Lewis Hall After Luke Shaw Struggles
- Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has urged the club to sign Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall for a reported fee of £75 million and Tottenham Hotspur captain...
- Scholes believes Manchester United's defensive stability is insufficient for a team challenging for the top of the Premier League.
- The former midfielder specifically pointed to the struggles of Luke Shaw against Ipswich winger Abdul Fatawu as a reason for manager Michael Carrick to seek reinforcements.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has urged the club to sign Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall for a reported fee of £75 million and Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero for £30-40million.
Paul Scholes identifies defensive gaps at Manchester United
Scholes believes Manchester United’s defensive stability is insufficient for a team challenging for the top of the Premier League. Despite the high score against Ipswich Town, Scholes stated on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast that the team could have been two or three goals down in the first half based on their play.
The former midfielder specifically pointed to the struggles of Luke Shaw against Ipswich winger Abdul Fatawu as a reason for manager Michael Carrick to seek reinforcements. Scholes suggested that Shaw’s difficulties could serve as the catalyst for the club to finalize a deal for a new left-back.
Do you know one thing that might help Michael? Shaw getting done yesterday [against Ipswich] like he did. So he might go, ‘Look, we need him’, and you think Hall might be the most doable who is out there and available.
Paul Scholes via Yahoo Sports
Transfer targets: Lewis Hall and Cristian Romero
Scholes identified two distinct defensive targets to bolster Michael Carrick’s squad. For the left-back position, he recommended 21-year-old Lewis Hall.
For the center-back position, Scholes urged United to hijack a £34million move by Atletico Madrid for Tottenham’s Cristian Romero. Despite calling the 28-year-old Argentine an absolute clown and a nutcase who does stupid things, Scholes argued that Romero’s winner’s mentality—including a World Cup and two Copa Americas—would benefit Old Trafford.
Scholes suggested that Michael Carrick’s calm demeanor could manage Romero’s erratic style. He noted that the defender is relatively cheap, with a projected price between £30-40million, according to the Daily Mail.
Contrasting views on Luke Shaw’s role
While Scholes pushed for an immediate replacement, Rio Ferdinand offered a different perspective via his YouTube channel. Ferdinand described Shaw’s game against Ipswich as below-par but maintained that the 31-year-old has been one of the club’s most consistent performers over the past year.
Ferdinand cautioned against reacting to fan calls to sell Shaw, suggesting instead that the club should find a left-back to bed in over time as a future replacement rather than an immediate substitute.
Current squad depth and alternative options
Manchester United currently employs several center-backs, including Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven, and Lisandro Martinez. Scholes argued that the position remains a priority because Martinez is prone to injury and Heaven is still a developing prospect who will make mistakes, according to the Daily Mail.
If a deal for Lewis Hall proves financially unfeasible, reports cited by Yahoo Sports indicate United has scouted three other options for the left-back role:
- Ferdi Kadioglu of Brighton
- Ian Maatsen of Aston Villa
- Jorge Salinas of Racing Santander
The club may pursue a loan deal for these alternatives given the significant spending already committed to the midfield this summer, according to Yahoo Sports.
Manchester United’s next Premier League fixture is a match against Hull City on August 22, 2026, as reported by the Daily Mail.