Michael Carrick has urged Manchester United to keep pushing for additional signings before the summer transfer window shuts on September 1, insisting the club “need” more new faces to strengthen the squad rather than assuming the current recruitment drive is enough.
Speaking ahead of the final stretch of the window, Carrick made clear that United’s planning for this transfer period has been shaped by recent squad realities and the need to improve key areas. United have already moved to address multiple positions this summer, having signed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow. The early business, however, has not fully calmed concerns among supporters, with restlessness growing as the calendar approaches the deadline.
United’s priorities were widely understood to include midfield reinforcement, particularly after the departure of Casemiro. That strategic focus has carried through to the current phase of the window: Carrick and the club’s recruitment team have emphasized that further additions are not optional if they want to compete at the level demanded domestically.
In an interview relayed by ESPN, Carrick said there are “one or two areas where we’d like to improve” and he did not rule out additional arrivals, even while acknowledging that the number of deals may be constrained by factors such as finances and timing. He stressed the message to the club is to continue pushing through the remaining 18 days of the window, while also ensuring any deal is “right” rather than rushed. ESPN
According to that reporting, United have spent £85 million so far in this window—bringing in Santos from Chelsea and Tielemans from Aston Villa. Those figures underline that the club have been active, but they also highlight the scale of the task still facing United as the deadline nears. With just under three weeks remaining before September 1, Carrick suggested the squad still needs reinforcements that fit specific needs rather than merely adding names.
Midfielder availability has also become an additional complicating factor. ESPN reported that United are looking at the possibility of adding a third new midfielder following Casemiro’s departure and after Manuel Ugarte suffered a knee ligament injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for most of the season. The prospect of a long absence increases the urgency around midfield depth and contingency planning, giving Carrick’s call for further business added weight. ESPN
Sky Sports’ coverage of United’s dealings has provided further detail on who has arrived and what else may be in motion. Alongside Santos, Tielemans and Darlow, the club have also taken in Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco, though Sky Sports indicated they are not expected to make immediate waves in the first-team squad. Sky Sports
Sky Sports also reported that United came into the window prioritizing the midfield following Casemiro’s exit, and that the club also moved to secure a backup for newly named No 1 Senne Lammens. Those moves suggest a recruitment plan that aims not only to raise quality, but also to address balance and coverage across the squad.
Yet the same reporting noted a growing sense of impatience among supporters, with the club’s next steps under scrutiny as the deadline approaches. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson has been identified as another player United have looked at in their search for an attacking left-back, indicating that the club’s recruitment thoughts may extend beyond midfield even as that is the headline priority. Meanwhile, Harry Amass has featured in pre-season but is expected to depart before the end of the window.
ESPN analysis has also framed Carrick’s position in wider terms, suggesting he has steadied the team following the end of Ruben Amorim’s tenure and that his “next examination starts now.” The same assessment noted the club’s recruitment activity—again referencing Santos and Tielemans—and argued that while those signings are promising, United’s overall spending across the squad has not matched the level of their rivals so far. ESPN
The report further emphasized that even if United conclude the transfer window with additional deals, they will still not be fully formed by the time the market closes. It pointed to a substantial gap separating United from top rivals, particularly Arsenal and Manchester City, and noted the expectation remains intense regardless of how “ready” the team feels. The implication is that the window’s final days may influence not just depth, but also whether United can narrow the competitive distance before the next phase of the season unfolds.
For Carrick, the central message is clear: progress must continue, but only within boundaries that make football and sporting sense. Whether United secure more midfield reinforcement in light of Ugarte’s injury and the Casemiro departure—or whether the club broaden their scope toward other positions such as left-back—the remaining weeks of the market are set to define how effectively United convert recruitment into immediate on-pitch improvements.
With September 1 looming, the club’s next decisions will test the balance between urgency and precision. Carrick’s call to “keep pushing” suggests United are preparing for further movement, but the window’s end may still leave fans watching closely for evidence that the additional signings required to compete can arrive quickly—and, crucially, be right.
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