Manchester United’s manager, Michael Carrick, has openly stated that the club both "wants" and "needs" to complete additional transfer business before the summer window shuts on September 1. As he gears up for his inaugural full campaign at Old Trafford, United have already added Andrey Santos and 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 club has also brought in Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco. While these three are unlikely to make an immediate impact on the first‑team sheet, their arrivals suggest United are building depth across the squad. The transfer strategy this window has largely centered on reinforcing the midfield after the departure of Casemiro, as well as providing a reliable backup for the newly appointed No.
1 goalkeeper, Senne Lammens. The acquisitions of Santos, Tielemans and Darlow represent concrete steps toward solving two of United’s most pressing positional issues. Nevertheless, a palpable sense of impatience has been growing among the Red Devils’ supporters, who are eager to see the club make further moves 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 emphasized that the club is still actively seeking extra reinforcements. "We’re delighted with the players we’ve brought in, first and foremost," he told Sky Sports News. "We’ve improved the group, added balance, quality and moved in the direction we want to go.
The business we’ve done is good – we have some top, top, top players – 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." In parallel with these transfer activities, United have also welcomed back Marcus Rashford, who re‑joined Carrick’s squad for pre‑season after spending the previous season on loan at Barcelona. The Catalan club opted not to trigger their £26 million purchase option, allowing Rashford to return to Manchester United.
The England forward could be poised to make his first appearance since December 2024 in a friendly against AC Milan, managed by Ruben Amorim. Rashford’s loan spell at Aston Villa had ended abruptly after a falling‑out with Amorim, but Carrick believes the striker brings qualities that the current group lacks and has been impressed by 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 here all his career, so he understands what it means to wear the shirt.
We treat him exactly like any other player, integrate him and carry on as normal. He adds a set of attributes we haven’t got, and we want that balance.
Marcus is back, 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 reportedly scouting for a left‑back and possibly a third central midfielder. The acquisition of a new forward appears unlikely, given Rashford’s return provides a viable solution up front for Carrick. Negotiations have reportedly explored a potential deal for Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, a left‑back, but the Magpies have indicated that Hall is not for sale.
Another candidate is Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, who has been linked with United as an attacking left‑back option. Meanwhile, 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 in midfield. While it remains uncertain whether United will move for him this summer, his dual‑position capability could theoretically address two of United’s needs at once.
The club has not ruled out the possibility of concluding the window without adding a third central midfielder, as Tielemans and Santos already bolster that area. Mason Mount, who has been deployed in a deeper role during pre‑season, suffered an injury scare that has raised concerns among fans about his fitness and availability. The club’s medical team is monitoring his recovery closely, and any lingering doubts could influence United’s decision‑making in the final hours of the transfer period.
In summary, while Carrick is pleased with the progress made so far – securing a promising midfielder, a solid central midfielder and an experienced goalkeeper – he acknowledges that the job is not finished. The manager’s message to supporters and the board alike is clear: United have taken important steps, but the pursuit of additional talent, particularly at left‑back and possibly a third midfield option, remains a priority as the deadline approaches. The club’s ambition to restore balance, depth and quality across the squad continues to drive its activity in the market, and fans can expect further developments before the transfer window officially shuts on September 1.