Carrick's United: Pre-Season Verdict, Transfer Plea, and the Santos Effect
Manchester United's pre-season under Michael Carrick is done — five weeks, six games, two wins, two draws, two defeats — and the new manager wants more signings before the transfer window shuts (BBC Sport; ESPN).
Carrick, appointed head coach this summer, has not been shy about the gap between where his squad stands and where he needs it to be. "We need more," he said on 13 August, urging the club to "keep pushing" for arrivals that could strengthen a title bid (Al Jazeera). United have spent roughly £85 million since the end of last season on three players: midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea, midfielder Youri Tielemans, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow. By modern Premier League standards, that is a modest outlay — and Carrick knows it.
The brightest sign of those investments is Santos. The 22-year-old Brazilian, United's first signing under Carrick (manutd.com), started all six pre-season matches and impressed supporters with his ball rotation, positional discipline, and vocal organising from midfield (BBC Sport). At £48m of the £85m total, he carries the weight of being the marquee arrival — and so far, he has looked the part.
Only two other players matched Santos' ever-present record across pre-season: Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven. Heaven, a young defender, caught the eye alongside Leny Yoro, who slotted in at right-back and looked natural there despite being a centre-back by trade. Rio Ferdinand, watching from the outside, praised the Tielemans signing and predicted a key role for Santos in Carrick's setup (manutd.com).
Tielemans' early chemistry with Bruno Fernandes is the other promising thread. The Belgian's intelligence on the ball, combined with Fernandes' instinct for the final pass, produced flickers of a partnership that could carry real weight once the competitive fixtures begin.
Not everything ran smooth. Mason Mount was arguably United's best player across the first three matches but went off as a precaution after a blow to his foot against Paris St-Germain on 8 August and did not feature again. Benjamin Sesko, the striker, and new goalkeeper Karl Darlow did not play at all. Bryan Mbeumo, meanwhile, rediscovered the energised form from the first half of last season rather than the fatigued version that returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Then there is the matter of exits. Joshua Zirkzee is hugely popular within the squad but lacks a natural position and has struggled for consistency. At times, 19-year-old academy prospect Shea Lacey was preferred to Zirkzee in the number 10 role — a playmaker position just behind the striker. Sources suggest that if a suitable offer from Italy materialises, a Serie A return for Zirkzee would make sense. Harry Amass, back-up to Luke Shaw at left-back, is expected to leave on loan. Toby Collyer, who deputised for Mount, is another whose future likely lies away from Old Trafford.
The biggest unresolved question is Marcus Rashford. Sources expect him to stay, but the door is not fully closed, and Carrick and his team-mates have pointedly avoided offering a definitive answer.
For fans, the picture is mixed. There is genuine excitement around Santos and the Heaven-Yoro defensive pairing, and the Tielemans-Fernandes link has the potential to shape how United attack. But Carrick's public call for more signings, the uncertainty around Rashford, and the likely departures of familiar faces all point to a squad still taking shape.
The season starts for real now. Pre-season tells you something. It rarely tells you everything.
