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Paul Scholes has identified the main problem that could prevent Manchester United from winning the title after giving his verdict on their chances of lifting the Premier League trophy under Michael Carrick ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Carrick’s appointment in mid-January, after replacing Ruben Amorim, changed the course of the club’s campaign, with the former Middlesbrough manager guiding United to a third-place finish and qualification for the Champions League.

There have, in fact, been suggestions in the media that Manchester United’s strong form in the second half of last season could push them into a genuine title race this time.

But Scholes, who won an outstanding 11 league titles during his illustrious spell at Old Trafford, feels United are still “a little bit away” from reigning champions Arsenal.

The Gunners secured their first league title since 2024 and began the new season impressively by beating last season’s closest challengers Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday.

When asked on The Overlap about United’s progress over the past six months and their prospects of winning the title, Scholes said: “I think it comes from Michael Carrick’s character. He’s just a calm and relaxed character, he won’t ever get too high or too low.

“Where you have to judge United’s transfer business is what do you expect from them? Are you expecting them to challenge for the Premier League? I still think that’s a little bit away with the business that’s been done.

“I think on the recruitment point of view, they seem to be doing it in different sections. This time last year they seemed to sort out the forward line which is now much better and much more dangerous.

“They could probably still do with another centre forward to help Benjamin Sesko out a bit. He’s still young and he did get better last season, there’s no doubt about that.

“It feels like the priority this summer has been the middle of the pitch and that area was a problem last season.

“I still think it’s a problem, not just from centre midfield but centre half as well because every team that had joy against us, it felt like they were coming straight down the middle because of the lack of pace and mobility in there.

“I’ve hardly seen Andrey Santos play so you need to give the lad a chance but I still think there might need something else in there.”

The former Manchester United midfielder also explained what he sees as the biggest reason his old club may fall short of a serious title challenge — Michael Carrick’s options at centre-back.

He added: “Youri Tielemans is a brilliant footballer and can control the game but again athleticism isn’t his strength. I still think there’s a problem down the middle, I still think they need centre-halves.

“I don’t think the current ones are of the quality to try and win the Premier League and that‘s where I judge Man United.

“In that position you need players who are reliable every single week but United’s are always picking up injuries.

“We’ve got Harry Maguire who’s starting to pick up niggles, Lisandro Martinez just can’t stay fit, Leny Yoro has struggled a bit over the last two years and it looks like the level is a little bit above him, although he’s still young and he might come on with Ayden Heaven.

“So I still think a big area of the pitch is that spine to make the side more solid and give them more legs and have more reliability at centre half.

“The thing Michael Carrick is going to have to deal with now as well is midweek football. He had an unbelievable run last year but everything was in his favour if you know what I mean.

“Now all of a sudden he’s got these extra games which will have an impact on the squad.”

Carrick’s side start the new Premier League season with an away trip to newly-promoted Hull City on Saturday in the lunchtime kick-off.