United were outclassed by Manchester City 3-0 on Sunday/
"I don't think the quality is there," Scholes told BBC Radio.
"Whatever two out of the four or five they have got in (midfield) - Casemiro, Bruno (Fernandes), (Kobbie) Mainoo - whatever combination he seems to try doesn't seem to work.
"That's a big issue. I thought all summer the absolute priority was a centre midfield player with legs, who can play and can control a game.
"Goalkeeper was (also) a major issue. Did they really need to get to the Grimsby game to realise (Andre) Onana is not good enough?
"If Manchester United were not in the market for Gianluigi Donnarumma when he became available, that is criminal offence.
"The recruitment side went to buy forwards. That did need addressing, but did it need three of them? I'm not sure it did."