'Anthony Martial almost conned us into thinking he was an actual centre-forward': Paul Scholes insists Manchester United still need to buy a 'top-class' striker because Frenchman is not good enough... and just days after club signed Edinson Cavani
* Paul Scholes still believes Manchester United are missing a 'top-class' striker
* Anthony Martial is not a No 9 despite his success last season, Scholes said
* Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has missed out on attacking transfer targets this year
* United have signed Edinson Cavani but Scholes says a new striker is needed
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes still believes his old club are missing a 'top-class' striker as Anthony Martial 'almost conned us' into believing he was a No 9 last season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to improve his attacking options in the wide areas this summer with Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho but the club failed to stump up the £108million fee. The Red Devils also missed out on signing striker Erling Haaland in January as he opted to make the move to Dortmund instead.
Instead, United signed 33-year-old free agent Edinson Cavani last week but ex-England midfielder Scholes insists the club still needs a centre forward.
United's first-choice front three currently consists of Marcus Rashford on the left, Mason Greenwood on the right and Martial through the middle, and although Scholes did praise the trio, he believes that none of them are out-and-out No 9s.
'These forwards are exceptionally talented lads. We all know that,' he told Stadium Astro.
'The problem with United's forwards is that none of them is an actual centre-forward.
'Martial almost conned us into thinking he was one at the end of last season because he scored so many goals and was quite good.
Anthony Martial 'almost conned us' into believing he was a No 9 last season, says Paul Scholes. Manchester United legend Scholes still believes his old club are missing a 'top-class' striker. United signed free agent Edinson Cavani last week after missing out on other transfer targets
'He's started this season quite poorly again, which makes you think he isn't. It's misleading. That's why I've kept saying we need a top-class No 9.'
Martial scored 23 goals in 48 appearances last campaign and ended the 2019-20 season strongly, notching three goals in his last six league games. In three matches this term he is yet to find the back of the net.
Rashford bagged 22 goals in 44 matches last season and has scored two in five in the 2020-21 campaign, while Greenwood grabbed 19 goals in 51 games in all competitions and has one to his name this time around.
United's new arrival Cavani scored an impressive 200 goals in 301 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain before leaving the club this summer.
But Scholes has branded the decision to hand Cavani a two-year deal on deadline-day last week 'very strange'.
He believes that United have signed the Uruguayan five years too late, and does not expect him to take Solskjaer's side to the next level this season.
When asked how he expects the former PSG hitman to fare at Old Trafford, he said: 'Well, we'll have to wait and see won't we.
'Obviously in his day, he's been a top-quality centre forward. There's no doubt about that. But he's 33 years old, looked like he was going to retire. He's not played a lot of football for PSG last season.
'Five, six years ago, yeah he's a great signing, he'll take us onto that next level possibly. But I just don't think he'll take us to the next level now.'
Solskjaer's side will be looking to bounce back from their humiliating 6-1 defeat by Tottenham when they face Newcastle on Saturday.
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