Updated: 14 Aug 2026 12:12 BST |
5 min read
Make us your Google favourite
Manchester United head into the 2026/27 season with Champions League football to look forward to, but in Michael Carrick’s first full campaign in charge, there has been no shortage of transfer window drama, from shock deals and midfield misses to the future of Marcus Rashford.
United have only added three players to Carrick’s roster over the summer, with only Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans expected to feature prominently in the first team. Meanwhile, the exodus expected to be led by Rashford has not materialised. Casemiro and Jadon Sancho have departed, but the only major sale is Rasmus Hojlund’s transfer to Napoli, a move long forecast.
So amid this rather disappointing summer, what is Carrick thinking with a week remaining before the Premier League begins? Here’s what we’ve learned from his biggest insight into the club yet.
United want more signings…
United do plan to make more signings, but these won’t be made at all costs.
“We would like more, we need to keep pushing for more,” Carrick said.
He would not be drawn into discussing what areas his squad need to be bolstered in, even when pressed about the prospect of signing a new midfielder or left-back competition for Luke Shaw.
These are the positions that United are understood to have focused their attentions before the end of the summer.
…but not at all costs
When it comes to big-money moves, though, United have been nowhere to be seen. They were comprehensively outmuscled when it came to Elliot Anderson, while other midfield targets they were linked with, including Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, have moved instead to Tottenham and Arsenal, with the Red Devils putting up little fight.
Is this something that Man Utd fans should get used to? Carrick suggested that the club is intent on finding stars who are value for money first and foremost.
“It’s still about the football, and that’s where the competition lies,” he said.
This statement is clearly playing down the prospect of United spending big in the market but that does not necessarily mean they will be any less ambitious. It’s about finding the right player for the right price.
Andrey Santos the positive surprise
Andrey Santos arrived in a shock €56 million move from Chelsea. Once described as ‘the best player in the world’ in a tongue-in-cheek manner by his former team-mates at Strasbourg, the Brazil international has quickly won Carrick over with his attitude.
“Andrey, for such a young man to come in the way he’s come in, his character, his personality is a dream… He’s so positive, so mature, so switched on; he wants to learn,” the Man Utd boss said.
Santos’ move from Chelsea came as a surprise, but it’s already proving to be a positive one for the Red Devils, with the 22-year-old having settled impressively during the club’s pre-season matches.
Rashford return embraced
Although it’s been widely reported that United want Rashford’s salary off their wage bill, Carrick continues to be publicly open about his willingness to work with the England star.
“There are ups and downs, and that doesn’t judge you as a one-off of judgement,” he said.
Carrick spoke about the way in which Rashford can offer his side “something a little big different” and even went so far as to say that it’s an “exciting” opportunity to work with the winger again.
Now it remains to be seen how prominent the player is as he returns to the club after his loan from Barcelona.
Standing up for United’s tradition
With United’s transfer business having been slower than expected, it provides an opportunity for the players from the academy to step up, and Carrick is embracing the club’s tradition.
“We’ve almost got a duty to get the younger players into the first team as much as we can at the right time and in the right way,” he said.
While Ruben Amorim seemed to stunt the development of certain academy prospects, such as Kobbie Mainoo, players such as JJ Gabriel, Shea Lacey, Tyler and Jack Fletcher, and Harry Amass can legitimately expect big roles in the squad in the coming months.
United have given these youngsters a shot in pre-season, and while the results have been mixed, the manager is ready to keep this important aspect of the Red Devils going.
Related stories:
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal and Man Utd open Jarell Quansah talks
Transfer Rumours: Arsenal in talks over Osimhen signing as rivals agree exit deal
Premier League summer transfers 2026: All the Done Deals
