Paul Scholes has admitted he is uncertain about where Cole Palmer would fit into Manchester United's current lineup if the club pursued a move for the Chelsea midfielder this summer. Reports have suggested that Palmer has grown disillusioned at Chelsea following a turbulent season that saw Enzo Maresca leave Stamford Bridge earlier this year. Although Palmer recently dismissed such claims, insisting he had 'no plans' to depart Chelsea in the upcoming transfer window, Scholes believes the England international would struggle to secure a starting role at Old Trafford due to the presence of Bruno Fernandes.
Scholes on Palmer's Positional Conflict
'I don't see where he plays for United, that's the problem,' Scholes told talkSPORT. 'I see him in a similar position to Bruno. Look, he's not going to be as influential as Bruno has been in this team. Whether you can play him off the right side, cutting in with his left foot, then yeah, he's a brilliant footballer. Again, he's gone quiet, but everyone at Chelsea has gone quiet. I'm not quite sure what's happening at that club. As many good players as you can get in your team, why not? He's a match winner on his day.'
Midfield Reinforcements Needed
Scholes also stressed that United need to strengthen their midfield with two new signings this summer, naming Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson as the club's top priority. 'I think last summer was probably quite good; they sorted the forward line out. Benjamin Sesko is looking good as well, though he's picked up another injury. They might possibly need another forward. But every time I watch United, they get attacked through the middle so often; they get overrun in that midfield area. Casemiro has had a little bit of a rebirth, but he's never going to have the legs if you're going to compete at the top end of the Premier League. I also think they need one or two centre-backs who are a little bit more physical. But definitely that area of the pitch—the middle of the pitch—somebody with Kobbie Mainoo. We know how clever Kobbie is; he can play the game in his brain. Legs aren't a massive thing for him, as long as you've got someone who can play that position really well next to him. I think they might need two of them. You can talk about Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton—they might need two of those three, two top-quality midfield players just to go into that area to try to get control of games.'
Anderson as First Choice
When asked if Anderson would be his first choice, Scholes replied: 'I think it would. I really liked him when he was at Newcastle. Newcastle had to sell him because of the PSR stuff. But what I've seen of him has been nothing short of brilliant. What he's done for Forest has been really good. In the Europa League, he's still got to go to that next level. He's done it with England, but England games are very hard to gauge because I don't think they're playing the best competition until they get to the World Cup when those bigger games come and we'll get a better idea. He'll still have to test himself in the Champions League, but he looks to me like he'd be able to handle it—absolutely no problem. But as I say, I think one or two will be needed, not just the one. But Anderson and Mainoo—I think I'd be happy with that for the start of next season.'
