Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has suggested that Steve McClaren can play a role in helping Erik ten Hag grab his transfer targets this summer.
The former England manager has been brought in as the Dutchman’s assistant alongside former Ajax No.2 Mitchell van der Gaag. McClaren was Sir Alex Ferguson ’s assistant between 1999 and 2001, and helped the club win the Treble in his first year.
In 2010, ten Hag was his assistant as he guided FC Twente to their sole Dutch title. He will now play roles-reversed as he re-takes his seat in the Old Trafford dugout, more than two decades on.
READ MORE: Steve McClaren has already told Manchester United about Cristiano Ronaldo's role next season
However, Scholes suggested that McClaren may be better suited to chasing United transfer targets than coaching on the training ground. He pointed to his spell at Derby County between November 2020 and September 2021, when he was the club’s technical director.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said: "This manager needs backing now, he's been brought into the club to really turn it around. The only issue is, who's going to be helping him on that side of the business? I know at Ajax he had Edwin (van der Sar) and Marc Overmars.
"He's always had someone to help him. I don't see that role at United now. I don't know who's going to do that.
“There isn't that link between him and Richard Arnold, or whoever's running the club, and I think he will need help.”
He continued: "Possibly Steve McClaren could be doing that. Steve as I know was a fantastic coach, one of the best coaches I've ever had.
"But I don't think he's coached for a while now, he's more into the director of football role I suppose with Derby County. Whether he takes that role on as well to help him with the signing of players, I think we have to wait and see."
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