Manchester United’s newly appointed manager Michael Carrick has made it clear that the club both "wants" and "needs" to complete additional signings before the summer transfer window shuts on September 1. As he prepares for his inaugural full season at Old Trafford, United have already added midfielder Andrey Santos and midfielder Youri Tielemans to the roster for a combined fee of roughly £85 million, and they have secured goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds United. Beyond those headline names, the squad has also welcomed a handful of younger prospects—Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco—who are unlikely to feature prominently in the first‑team lineup immediately but are viewed as long‑term investments. The club’s early transfer strategy centred on bolstering the midfield after the exit of Casemiro, while also ensuring there is a reliable deputy for the newly‑appointed No 1, Senne Lammens, between the posts.
Santos, Tielemans and Darlow represent solid steps toward addressing two key areas of need, yet the fanbase’s impatience has grown, with many supporters urging the board to move quickly on further deals. When asked to evaluate his first summer window as United’s head coach, Carrick expressed satisfaction with the arrivals to date but underscored that the work is far from finished. "We’re delighted with the players we’ve brought in, first and foremost," he told Sky Sports News.
"We’ve improved the group, we’ve added balance, quality and a clear direction. The business we’ve done is very good, but we always want to improve. We want more, we need more, and we’ll keep pushing until we get it." In parallel with these transfer moves, United have also reintegrated England forward Marcus Rashford into Carrick’s pre‑season plans.
Rashford spent the previous campaign on loan at Barcelona; however, the Catalan side declined to trigger their £26 million purchase option, prompting his return to Manchester. The midfielder‑turned‑forward is expected to make his first appearance for United since December 2024 in a friendly against AC Milan, managed by Ruben Amorim. Carrick praised Rashford’s training form and highlighted the familiarity Rashford brings to the club culture. "We treat him like any other player joining the group," Carrick explained.
"He knows the club inside out, which is a positive, but we still expect him to earn his place like everyone else. He adds qualities we’ve been missing, and his recent training performances have been impressive." Looking ahead to the final days of the window, United remain active in the market for a left‑back and possibly a third central midfielder.
The return of Rashford has reduced the urgency for a new striker, but the left side of defence still appears vulnerable. Newcastle United have indicated that their promising youngster Lewis Hall is not for sale, despite United’s earlier enquiries. Consequently, United have turned their attention to Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, a dynamic left‑back who could provide the attacking impetus the team seeks. Meanwhile, Harry Amass, another pre‑season participant, is expected to depart before the deadline.
United have also kept an eye on Arsenal’s versatile youngster Myles Lewis‑Skelly, who can operate both as a left‑back and a midfielder. While it is uncertain whether United will pursue him this summer, his dual‑position capability could theoretically solve two squad deficiencies at once. The club has not ruled out the possibility of closing the window without adding a third central midfielder, given the recent arrivals of Tielemans and Santos. In midfield, Mason Mount has been experimented with in a deeper role during pre‑season, but a recent injury scare has raised concerns among supporters about his fitness and long‑term availability.
Overall, Carrick’s message to fans and the board is unequivocal: United have made progress, but the job is not done. The manager emphasised that the pursuit of new talent is a continuous process, and that the club must remain vigilant until the very last day of the transfer period. As the deadline looms, United’s next moves will likely focus on shoring up the left side of the pitch and adding depth to the midfield, while monitoring the market for any unexpected opportunities that could further strengthen the squad ahead of the new campaign.