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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has warned his former club against signing Brighton's £100m-rated star Carlos Baleba, amid doubts over his quality.
The Red Devils had pursued Baleba during the summer transfer window, but Brighton demanded in excess of £100m to part with the midfielder.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that Baleba remains on a shortlist of targets aimed at strengthening Ruben Amorim's midfield.
Daily Mail Sport's Man United Confidential reported that Baleba, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton remain long-term targets, but are not seen as likely deals in the January transfer window.
A more low-cost option such as Wolves’ Joao Gomes is seen as more likely in the upcoming window.
Scholes was posed the question of whether he would prefer Baleba, Wharton or Anderson to join Man United in an interview with Sky Sports.
Paul Scholes has warned Man United over pursuing Brighton's Carlos Baleba for £100m, with the Red Devils also targeting Nottingham Forest's Elliott Anderson
Scholes admitted doubts over Baleba's quality and named his preferred choice to strengthen Ruben Amorim's midfield
The Man United legend admired Baleba's athleticism and compared him to Chelsea star Mosies Caicedo in style, but expressed concerns over his overall quality.
‘I think all three of them are really good players,’ Scholes told Sky Sports. ‘Baleba is very young, but they’re all quite young, aren’t they? But Baleba is very young.
Quality-wise, is he quite there? I think he’s almost in a Caicedo type of way.
‘He’s done really well at Chelsea, don’t get me wrong, but is that the type of player Manchester United need? I’m not sure.
'Adam Wharton is a really good player, but can he get around the pitch. Old Trafford is a big pitch, you need to have some physicality.
'I'd say going off the England form, which has surprised me more than anything, but Elliot Anderson. I really liked him at Newcastle but thought he was more of an attacking player, but he's come into as a No.8 for England and looked very accomplished.
‘I’d probably say I’d go Wharton. I still don’t think they’re any of the Manchester United style midfield players, they’re more the style of football these days.
‘I just think Wharton’s got a little bit more quality. That’s tough saying that. I think he’s got more quality than Baleba.
Scholes said he would 'just' pick Adam Wharton over Anderson if given the choice
‘Baleba’s got more legs, so that evens itself out a little bit. It’s close between Elliot Anderson and Wharton. I’d just pick Wharton.’
Baleba, 21, has already played over 70 times in the Premier League after joining Brighton in a £23m move from Lille.
The midfielder has featured in all 12 of Brighton's league matches this season, but has only completed a full 90 minutes once.
Anderson has played every minute for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League this campaign and has established himself as a starter in Thomas Tuchel's England squad.
Wharton was called up to the last England squad, but the Crystal Palace star appears to be facing a battle to earn a spot in the squad for next summer's World Cup.
