According to a report by Metro on Tuesday October 27, 2026, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has criticised the club’s recent recruitment, insisting that Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko are not good enough to take the team to the next level.

United have endured a disappointing start to the season, sitting 16th in the Premier League after eight matches. Their struggles continued last weekend when Michael Carrick’s side suffered a convincing defeat against Bournemouth.

The club’s summer transfer strategy has also come under scrutiny, with United prioritising midfield reinforcements while failing to strengthen important positions at left-back and in attack.

Rooney believes the team’s lack of depth in these areas has contributed to their difficulties. Speaking on Stick To United, the former striker questioned why the club failed to recruit additional defenders despite concerns about injuries, fitness and the demands of European football.

He pointed out that Luke Shaw was unlikely to feature in every match, while Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez could face difficulties coping with the intensity of Champions League football.

Rooney argued that United should have added defensive reinforcements to protect their existing players and provide greater balance across the squad.

He suggested that Maguire could have been managed more carefully, potentially being used primarily in domestic competitions while another defender handled European fixtures.

The former England captain was equally unimpressed with United’s attacking additions. Although Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko have delivered encouraging performances at different moments, Rooney remains unconvinced that they possess the quality required to transform the club into serious contenders.

“They’re deluded if they think the front three that they’ve brought in are good enough; they’re not,” Rooney said.

He added that signing players who had performed well at Wolves and Brentford did not automatically mean they could take Manchester United into the Champions League and compete at the highest level.

Rooney believes United remain a considerable distance away from challenging for major honours, describing the current squad as far from being capable of winning the Premier League.

Despite the poor results, Carrick is expected to remain in charge for Saturday’s meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have reportedly emerged as potential candidates to replace the United manager if the club decides to make a change. Antonio Conte and Unai Emery have also been linked with the position.