Michael Carrick has defended Manchester United’s approach to the summer transfer window, insisting the club have secured strong value despite the huge sums being paid for midfielders by their Premier League rivals.
United have already spent £50million on Andrey Santos and another £35m on Youri Tielemans, while the club continue to pursue Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba after reportedly submitting a £65m offer.
The spending elsewhere has been considerably higher.
Manchester City paid £116m for Elliot Anderson, while Tottenham completed an £85m deal for Mateus Fernandes.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have raised £167.5m through the sales of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to Tottenham and Arsenal.
United pleased with Santos and Tielemans
Carrick believes United should not be judged simply by comparing their transfer fees with those of rival clubs.
The former United midfielder, speaking ahead of Saturday’s opening fixture against newly promoted Hull City, said the club were particularly pleased with both of their midfield additions.
“There’s certainly players that have been more expensive, I think that’s pretty obvious,” Carrick said.
However, he stressed that the value of the deals was only part of the reason for his satisfaction.
Carrick believes Santos and Tielemans bring different qualities to his side and have already strengthened the balance of the squad.
The manager added that United had acquired “two fantastic players” who provide greater variety and depth in the middle of the pitch.
Midfield rebuild remains the priority
United’s focus on midfield has been driven by significant changes to the squad.
Casemiro has departed as a free agent, while Manuel Ugarte faces an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee ligament injury during the World Cup.
That has left United needing greater depth and reliability in the centre of the team, with Baleba still a major target as the club look to complete the rebuild.
Carrick acknowledged that successful teams must continually evolve rather than rely on the same group of players indefinitely.
Carrick wants a stronger spine
For the United boss, the importance of the midfield goes beyond simply adding more names to the squad.
Carrick believes the strongest sides are built around a dependable spine, with quality through the centre providing the foundation for sustained success.
He feels United have already made considerable progress in that area following the arrival of Santos and Tielemans.
The manager also highlighted the character of the new recruits, suggesting their impact could extend beyond their technical abilities.
United will continue to assess opportunities in the transfer market, but Carrick believes the squad is already in a much stronger position than it was at the beginning of the summer.
Left-back cover still on the agenda
Despite the progress in midfield, United have another area they want to address before the transfer deadline.
The club remain interested in signing a left-back who can provide cover for Luke Shaw.
Carrick also played down expectations of a major wave of departures, despite continued speculation surrounding players such as Joshua Zirkzee and reports linking the forward with a possible return to Italy.
Asked whether any players had personally told him they wanted to leave, Carrick said none had done so.
He acknowledged that the club could not control interest from other teams, but insisted the priority was to work with the squad currently available and strengthen it whenever possible.
Bruno Fernandes remains central to Carrick’s plans
Captain Bruno Fernandes has also been the subject of renewed speculation over his future at Old Trafford.
Carrick, however, made it clear that the Portugal international remains an important part of his plans.
Fernandes has been one of United’s most influential players in recent seasons, and the manager expects that role to continue.
At the same time, Carrick recognises the physical demands facing his captain after a long campaign followed by international duty at the World Cup.
The manager said keeping Fernandes fit and managing his workload will be important, particularly given his importance to the team.
United enter the season with renewed midfield depth
With Santos and Tielemans already through the door and Baleba still being pursued, United’s midfield is undergoing one of the most significant transformations of the summer.
Carrick is confident the club have not been left behind by rivals simply because other Premier League sides have spent more on individual players.
Instead, he believes United have focused on acquiring players who fit their needs while avoiding some of the inflated prices being demanded across the market.
The challenge now is to turn that investment into results, beginning with the trip to Hull City and the opening weeks of the new campaign.
What’s next?
United are expected to continue exploring a deal for Baleba while also looking for left-back cover before the transfer window closes.
Carrick will then have to find the right combination from his revamped midfield and carefully manage Fernandes as the season progresses.
Summary
Michael Carrick has backed Manchester United’s summer recruitment, arguing that the club have obtained excellent value from the £50m signing of Andrey Santos and £35m acquisition of Youri Tielemans.
With Baleba still being targeted, the midfield rebuild remains central to United’s plans, while the club also seek left-back cover.
Carrick remains confident in the squad and has reaffirmed Bruno Fernandes’ importance despite fresh speculation about the captain’s future.
