Manchester United signed Youri Tielemans for £35m and Andrey Santos for £48m this summer, with a bid for 22‑year‑old Carlos Baleba on the table. The 45‑year‑old manager Michael Carrick is overhauling the midfield after the departure of Casemiro, who left Old Trafford in May. The new core will face Hull on Saturday and Ipswich on Sunday before a series of Premier League fixtures, including a trip to Everton and a home match against Manchester City on 13 September.
A new engine‑room
Carrick’s own £18m move from Tottenham in 2006 set a benchmark for United’s midfield signings. Since then, the club has struggled to find a consistent central midfielder, with departures such as Bastian Schweinsteiger (35 appearances, 2 goals) and the brief stints of Paul Pogba, Fred, and Sofyan Amrabat. The summer window saw the arrival of Tielemans, a No 8 who will compete with Kobbie Mainoo, and Santos, a No 6 who will slot alongside Baleba if the bid is accepted.
Mason Mount’s injury
Mason Mount, 27, suffered a knock in a friendly against Paris Saint‑Germain. Carrick dismissed concerns, saying, “First of all Mason is a top player – we have seen that he was one of our best players in the first games. He was outstanding and has picked up a bit of a knock. But there are no dramas.” The manager believes Mount will return soon and be fit for the upcoming matches.
Future signings
Carrick has also expressed interest in adding a left‑back, with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis‑Skelly on the radar. By 1 September, the squad could see four major signings, including Baleba, if the transfer is completed. The centre‑back unit remains a question mark, but Carrick insists the midfield overhaul is the priority.
Upcoming fixtures
United’s first two games of the season will be against promoted sides Hull and Ipswich, which Carrick described as a “favourable launch” but “ridiculous” to call them easy. The next match is a trip to Everton, followed by a home fixture against Manchester City on 13 September. Carrick sees this run as a golden chance for United to position themselves as title contenders.
The legacy of midfield
The club’s midfield legacy includes legends like Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, and Bryan Robson. Carrick, who played 464 games for United, believes his experience gives him insight into what it takes to succeed in the heart of the team. He says, “We’ve brought in some really, really top players and really good characters, which is important. We’ve got to evolve and we’ve got to improve.”
