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Paul Scholes has branded Manchester United’s transfer activity as “a recruitment mess” and is appalled by the amount of money spent on players who have failed to make an impact.

United have spent more than £600million under Erik ten Hag, around a third of which was used this summer on five recruits. Three of them were benched for Sunday’s goalless draw at Aston Villa, with Leny Yoro injured and Noussair Mazraoui the only signing to start.

Manuel Ugarte, the £42m deadline day arrival, has failed to get onto the pitch in United’s last two matches while Matthijs De Ligt was brought on at half-time only after Harry Maguire sustained injury. Meanwhile, Joshua Zirkzee is on a nine-game scoreless run.

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Ten Hag has denied being solely responsible for the transfer trend of acquiring former players or Dutch nationals, which account for seven of his 13 permanent signings at United. Mazraoui, Zirkzee and De Ligt - brought in by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new regime - all fall into that category.

“It is club decisions, none of them is only my decision,” Ten Hag insisted in August. “It is always backed, or even brought, up through the scouting, recruitment, technical director, sporting director. It is a decision made by more than only one."

Regardless, Scholes has been left unimpressed. He is unsure United have enough firepower in attack and criticised the club’s summer recruitment business given how few players started the game at Villa Park this weekend.

“In forward areas especially, I just don't think the quality is there,” Scholes said on SuperSport, having witnessed his former club go three Premier League games without scoring. “We go back to the most successful teams, they're capable of scoring goals.

“What have we scored? Five goals in seven games. Now, we had three or four forwards who could get you 20 goals so you're looking at 80 goals a season there and I just don't see that in the forward line at Manchester United.

“Look, Hojlund does alright but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don't think so. Zirkzee… what is he? Is he a No.9 or a No.10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don't think so.”

Highlighting the amount shelled under Ten Hag, Scholes continued: “I think they're relying more on hope than actual proven quality and they spent so much money as well. It's a ridiculous amount of money and some of them can't get in the team!

“You think of Ugarte coming into the club who was supposed to change the way the midfield was… he didn't play him. De Ligt, £50m and he didn't play him.

“Jonny Evans has come in at 36 years old instead of him. Martinez, Ten Hag brought him into the club.

"What's he thinking today? Jonny Evans is playing, Maguire started, Lindelof comes on before him. It's just a recruitment mess really.”