SCHOLES DIFFICULT TO REPLACE

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson might have had a lot of success in the transfer window in the last two decades, but the manager has said that it will be extremely difficult to replace a player like Paul Scholes.

The Manchester United midfielder will be retiring from football after the end of the season. He had to be persuaded to come out of retirement midway through last season after Manchester United suffered a lot of injury problems and also a dip in form. After his return, Manchester United were almost unstoppable. Ferguson has said that he is truly amazed at the talent within the 37-year-old has said that it will be very difficult to find another player like him ever again, certainly ahead of this season's Man United fixtures.

A number of high profile Manchester United youngsters, who came through the youth academy more than a decade ago, will be retiring from the service in the next couple of seasons. Paul Scholes will be the first one, while Ryan Giggs is likely to retire as well. However, the manager was in awe of Paul Scholes, who continued to dictate the way Manchester United played even after the golden age of 37 years. Ryan Giggs is the only more experienced squad member at Manchester United.

"A year ago, he was coaching my Reserves team. Now he's back playing and everybody attached to United is absolutely delighted because he's such a fantastic player. In the long term, trying to replace Paul is a different issue all together. It's going to be very, very difficult. To replace a great player like that would be hard for anyone," Sir Alex told the official website of the club. Manchester United recently lost a great talent in the form of Gary Neville, who retired from professional football last season and has entered into punditry work.