Manchester United Transfer News: Gerard Pique Warning Sounded by Paul Scholes

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has warned Premier League clubs off purchasing Barcelona's Gerard Pique.

The recently outspoken pundit believes the defender—who resided at Old Trafford between 2004-2008—would struggle with the intensity of the English top flight. Scholes wrote the following in his column for The Independent:

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I have always thought that Spanish football, and Barcelona in particular, suits him best. He likes being in a side that keeps possession. He is great at home but playing away at the big teams in England is a completely different prospect for a defender. His success at Barcelona and with Spain has been incredible. But I think Gerard would find it harder back in the Premier League.

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KIN CHEUNG/Associated Press

Pique has struggled to retain a starting place under Luis Enrique this season and is widely seen as a diminishing force in La Liga. The 27-year-old is perhaps guilty of becoming too comfortable at the Camp Nou, where he has won every worthwhile trophy and remained largely untouched in the first team for six years.

Sloppiness has crept into Pique's game. Barcelona rarely ping the ball around with the confidence of the Pep Guardiola days, leaving the defence increasingly exposed to counters. Pique's positioning and general mobility has been questionable across the last couple of seasons—he used to dominate with an athletic physicality—and he seems to have lost a yard of pace.

He isn't an instinctive defender and is prone to making errors when hasty decisions need to be made. We saw this during the Clasico, in which he handled the ball to concede a penalty and subsequently Barcelona's first breach of goal this season.

Paul White/Associated Press

Pique's lack of progress was summed up by Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sport Witness):

United, Chelsea and Arsenal have since been linked with his signature, per Dave Wood of the Daily Mail, but Scholes' assertions indicate an out-of-form Pique would struggle with the Premier League's intensity.

Pique is physical enough to excel in England when on top of his game, but possession would be harder to come by at any of the Premier League clubs reportedly interested in him.

Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Galas also questioned Pique's potential switch, saying, "I don't think Mourinho would [sign him]," reported by Gus Young of Squawka.

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

The Blues boss likes to utilise experienced defenders and isn't too worried about a lack of agility, hence John Terry's continued role in the team.

That said, the English centre-back is a natural leader and physically dominant due to his excellent game-reading skills. Pique should be somewhere similar at his peak, but currently falls short. Both United and Arsenal are craving a new centre-back, however, and could take a punt just to shore up their faltering defences.

Gunners specialist James McNicholas outlined other potential options to B/R UK's Ryan Bailey:

An uncertain future certainly awaits Pique. Should Enrique continue to overlook him in favour of youngster Marc Bartra, it's likely January could yield a significant change in the player's career.

On the plus side, at least his previous experience in England would help make the potential switch more comfortable. Pique undoubtedly has a lot to offer and needs a wake-up call of this magnitude if he's to rediscover his best form.