Carrick Defends £150m Midfield Revamp Amid Left-Back Shortage

Manchester United invested £150 million to sign Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba during the summer transfer window.

Manchester United spent approximately £150 million ($203m) during the summer transfer window to overhaul their midfield through the acquisitions of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba. Manager Michael Carrick confirmed on Friday, Sep 4, 2026, at 09:31 AM ET, that he is largely happy with the recruitment efforts led by CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. While Premier League competitors including Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool each committed at least £100m to a single player, United distributed their budget across three primary signings to strengthen the squad following the previous season.

Joshua Zirkzee remains at Old Trafford despite late interest from Everton on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Dutchman has not played a single minute of competitive football so far this season, yet Carrick insists the forward is happy and maintains a positive relationship with the coaching staff. The manager cited an upcoming congested fixture list over the next two weeks as the primary reason why Zirkzee will be required to provide depth and competition for places within the current group.

Midfield Reinforcements and Financial Strategy

The £150 million expenditure focused exclusively on the center of the pitch, bringing in Santos, Tielemans, and Baleba to provide new options. Carrick stated during a Friday news conference that the club aimed to emerge from the window stronger than the group available last year. He noted that the recruitment team maximized the available finances, asserting that the club made the most of their budget without a shadow of a doubt. The manager acknowledged that while some targets become available and others do not, he is comfortable with the evolution of the current roster.

Defensive Depth and Aït-Nouri Enquiry

Manchester United failed to secure a new left-back before the Tuesday deadline, leaving Luke Shaw as the only natural specialist in that position for the first half of the season. The club submitted an enquiry regarding the availability of Rayan Aït-Nouri, but a formal deal did not materialise. Carrick addressed criticisms regarding this lack of defensive recruitment by stating that no squad is ever perfect and that the team must find ways of adapting to the current personnel. The manager indicated that while there are always additional things a club could have done, he is satisfied with the work completed by Berrada and Wilcox.

Zirkzee Retained Despite Everton Interest

Everton’s pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee concluded without a transfer as the deadline passed on Tuesday. Although the striker is seeking more playing time than he has currently received, Carrick expects the player to perform "top things" for the team in the coming months. The manager highlighted that the squad depth is essential for the duration of the whole season. United’s strategy involved rejecting late inquiries to ensure they have sufficient coverage for the heavy schedule ahead, specifically focusing on the games scheduled for the next fortnight. Carrick concluded that the situation regarding finances dictated their movement, but the resulting group represents a successful use of available funds.