Manchester United's newly appointed manager, Michael Carrick, has made it clear that the club "want" and "need" to complete further transfer activity before the summer window shuts on September 1. As Carrick prepares for his inaugural full campaign at Old Trafford, United have already secured the services of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans for a combined fee of roughly £85 million, and have added goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds United. In addition to these headline signings, the squad has also welcomed Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco. While these three youngsters are unlikely to feature prominently in the first team immediately, their arrival reflects United's broader strategy of building depth across the roster.
The club entered this transfer period with a clear focus on bolstering the midfield after the departure of veteran Casemiro, and on providing a reliable backup for the newly‑appointed No.1 keeper, Senne Lammens. The acquisitions of Santos, Tielemans and Darlow represent tangible progress in addressing two of the most pressing needs, yet a growing sense of impatience among supporters suggests that many expect more deals to be concluded before the deadline. When asked to evaluate his first summer window as United's head coach, Carrick expressed satisfaction with the players already signed 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 in terms of balance, quality and the direction we want to head in. The business we've done has given us some top‑class talent, and we are happy with that.
But we always want to improve. We want more, we need more.
We keep looking forward to how we can do that. That never stops. We're conscious of that and we have to keep pushing." Beyond the new arrivals, United have also reintegrated Marcus Rashford into Carrick's pre‑season plans. Rashford spent the previous season on loan at Barcelona, but the Spanish club opted not to trigger their £26 million purchase clause, prompting his return to Manchester.
The England international could make his first appearance for United since December 2024 in an upcoming friendly against AC Milan, managed by Ruben Amorim. Rashford's relationship with Amorim had soured during his earlier loan spell at Aston Villa, but Carrick believes the striker adds a dimension that the current squad lacks. "We're really calm about bringing Rashford back in," Carrick said. "We treat him like any other player joining the group.
The only twist is that he knows the club inside out, which is a real positive. He's been at United his whole career, apart from the last eight months, so he understands the culture. We treat him exactly like any other player, integrate him into the squad and move forward as normal.
He brings qualities we haven't got, and we want that balance. Marcus is back, he's in good form, and it's been great to have him around this week." Looking ahead to the final days of the window, United are actively scouting for a left‑back and potentially a third central midfielder. The club is unlikely to pursue a new forward, given Rashford's return provides a viable solution up front. Negotiations have reportedly taken place regarding a possible move for Lewis Hall, a left‑back from Newcastle United, but the Magpies have consistently stated that Hall is not for sale.
Another candidate for the left‑back role is Fulham's Antonee Robinson, who has attracted United's interest as an attacking option on the flank. Meanwhile, Harry Amass, who featured in pre‑season fixtures, is expected to depart before the window closes. United also maintain a long‑term admiration for Arsenal's versatile youngster Myles Lewis‑Skelly, capable of playing both as a left‑back and in midfield. While it remains uncertain whether United will act for him this summer, his dual‑position capability could theoretically address two squad deficiencies simultaneously.
The possibility remains that United could finish the transfer period without adding a third central midfielder, given the arrivals of Tielemans and Santos already strengthen that area. Mason Mount, who has been deployed in a deeper midfield role during pre‑season, suffered a minor injury scare that has raised concerns among fans about his fitness and availability. Overall, Carrick's message is one of cautious optimism mixed with a clear call for continued activity.
The manager acknowledges the progress made, yet he emphasizes that the club must keep pushing to secure the additional pieces needed to compete at the highest level. As the deadline looms, United supporters will be watching closely to see whether the final signings materialise, hoping that the blend of new talent and returning veterans will propel the team toward a successful campaign.