Paul Scholes believes Manchester United risks “going into the wilderness in the same way that Liverpool did in the 1990s” if they don't make a series of major moves to improve their roster.

Calling the situation “desperate”, Scholes wrote in the Independent: “Let me be clear: I am sick of having to criticize the club which I gave my life to as a footballer. But United need to arrest their decline.

“I feel it is time for major change. What do United need? Five players. Not five players with potential. Five experienced players … for now. Five proper players who can hit the ground running and turn around a situation that looks desperate. United’s forwards are as good as any team in the league. The problem is what comes behind them.

“My five would be: Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Raphaël Varane, Angel Di Maria and Mats Hummels. It would be one very big cheque for Real Madrid, given that four of them would come from that club. It would be hard to land them all. But that is the level that United need at this stage of the transfer window.”