Manchester United’s newly appointed manager, Michael Carrick, has made it clear that the club both "wants" and "needs" to increase its transfer activity before the summer window shuts on September 1. As Carrick prepares for his inaugural full season at Old Trafford, United have already secured the services of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos and Belgian playmaker Youri Tielemans for a combined fee of roughly £85 million, and they have added goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds United.
In addition to those headline signings, the Red Devils have also brought in a trio of younger prospects – Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco – although these players are not expected to feature prominently in the first‑team plans right away. The initial focus of the window was clearly the midfield, following the departure of veteran Casemiro, and the need for a reliable backup to newly‑promoted No 1 Senne Lammens between the posts. While the arrivals of Santos, Tielemans and Darlow represent tangible progress in two key areas, a growing sense of impatience has taken hold among the fanbase, who are urging the club to complete further deals.
When asked to evaluate his first summer window, Carrick expressed satisfaction with the quality of the players already signed but emphasized that the work is far from finished. "We’re delighted with the players we’ve brought in, first and foremost," Carrick told Sky Sports News. "We’ve improved the squad in terms of balance, quality and the direction we want to head.
The business we’ve done has given us some top‑class talent, and we’re happy with that. But we always want to get better.
We want more, we need more. We keep looking forward to how we can do that – it never stops. We’re conscious of that and we have to keep pushing." Beyond the new signings, United have also welcomed back England forward Marcus Rashford, who returned after a season‑long loan at Barcelona. The Catalan side declined to trigger their £26 million purchase option, allowing Rashford to re‑join United’s pre‑season preparations.
Carrick believes Rashford adds a dimension that the current squad lacks and has praised his training form. "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 intimately, 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 group and carry on as normal. He brings qualities we haven’t had, and we want that balance. Marcus is back, he’s in good form and it’s been great to have him around this week." Rashford could make his first appearance for United since December 2024 in an upcoming friendly against AC Milan, managed by Ruben Amorim.
The forward’s return also alleviates some pressure on the club’s attacking options, meaning that a forward signing is unlikely before the deadline. Nevertheless, United remain active in the market for other positions.
The club is reportedly scouting a left‑back and possibly a third central midfielder. A move for Lewis Hall of Newcastle United has been explored, but the Magpies have indicated that Hall is not for sale at this stage. Fulham’s attacking left‑back Antonee Robinson is another name that has surfaced, while Harry Amass, who featured in pre‑season, is expected to depart before the window closes. United have also kept tabs on Arsenal’s versatile youngster Myles Lewis‑Skelly, who can operate both as a left‑back and a midfielder.
Though it is uncertain whether the Red Devils will make a bid this summer, his dual‑position capability could theoretically address two of United’s needs simultaneously. Even with the arrivals of Tielemans and Santos, the club has not ruled out finishing the window without a third central midfielder, especially if they feel the current depth suffices.
Mason Mount, who has been deployed in a deeper role during pre‑season, suffered an injury scare that has raised concerns among supporters about his fitness and availability for the upcoming campaign. In summary, Michael Carrick’s message to United supporters is one of cautious optimism tempered by ambition.
The manager is pleased with the progress made – Santos, Tielemans, Darlow and the reintegration of Rashford – but he acknowledges that the squad still requires reinforcement, particularly on the left flank and possibly in the midfield engine room. The club’s transfer strategy appears to be a blend of immediate impact signings and long‑term planning, with a willingness to explore multiple targets while respecting the financial realities of the market.
As the deadline looms, United fans will be watching closely to see whether the final pieces fall into place, completing a window that Carrick hopes will set the foundation for a competitive season ahead.