Manchester United: Paul Scholes urges Red Devils to spend money on three key players this summer

Paul Scholes wants Manchester United to open their purse strings yet again in the summer and make more signings ahead of the next season. The former Reds midfielder has identified the positions that need strengthening after yet another disappointing campaign in the league thus far. The Old Trafford club can salvage their season as they have been handed a chance to qualify in the top four if they win their remaining two games in the league, while they also have an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace to look forward to, which will give them a chance to win their first piece of silverware in three seasons.

The 20-time English champions have spent a considerable amount of money since Louis van Gaal's arrival at the club in 2014, but have failed to achieve the results expected by the club's hierarchy. The Dutch manager has spent over £250m ($360m) which includes a British-record £59.7m ($86m) fee for Angel di Maria, who was sold just after one season, and £25m ($36m) for Memphis Depay, who could also be offloaded in the summer.

Despite the big signings and massive outlay of transfer funds, they managed just the fourth place last season. In the current campaign, a best case scenario will see them replicate their league finish from the previous year while hoping to add an FA Cup trophy. The former Bayern Munich manager's future at the club remains uncertain, with a number of reports suggesting Jose Mourinho will take over in the summer, but Scholes believes that United need to strengthen in three key areas to get back to challenging the top clubs.

"They need to spend some more money. I think they need a top centre forward, a centre half and possibly a bit of creativity in midfield," Scholes said after United's 1-0 win over Norwich City, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

"I don't think there's need for eight, nine or 10 players or anything like that. I just think two, three, four players maybe at most just to bring some real quality to the team," the former Reds midfielder added.