Paul Scholes has slammed Manchester United amid reports his former club are ready to pay £34m to sign Southampton defender Luke Shaw.

The England international is reportedly nearing a move to the 13-time Premier League champions and speculation suggests that the 18-year-old will undergo a medical at Carrington in the coming days.

For a left-back to be worth £34m shows how silly the game has gone Paul Scholes

United, who signed Ander Herrera in a £29m deal from Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, are rumoured to be coughing up a staggering £34m to land the Saints youngster, beating off competition from Chelsea.

However, Red Devils legend Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles during his career at Old Trafford, feels such transfers aren’t good for the Premier League and the future of the national team.

“The proposed £34m transfer for the 18-year-old Luke Shaw to Manchester United is another example of something which has a bad long-term impact,” Scholes said.

“Clubs are priced out of this market which is why they go abroad for cheap options – they’re not better players. For a left-back to be worth £34m shows how silly the game has gone.

“For that money I want a centre-forward who’s going to score 30 goals a season.”