For nearly two decades, Manchester United's midfield has been a graveyard of unfulfilled promise, littered with expensive signings who failed to match the standards set by the club's storied past. Now, under Michael Carrick, the club appears determined to finally correct that trend heading into a pivotal season.
The warning signs of United's poor recruitment history in this area are well documented. In July 2015, then executive vice-president Ed Woodward told MUTV that Bastian Schweinsteiger's arrival would "send some shivers down the spine" of rivals. Instead, the World Cup winner made just 35 appearances and scored twice before leaving for Chicago Fire two years later, having spent time training with the club's youth squad under José Mourinho.
That episode was far from an isolated incident. Since Michael Carrick's own £18m move from Tottenham in 2006 - a transfer that brought a player who would go on to be a reliable presence for years - United have struggled to replicate that kind of success in the middle of the park. Paul Pogba, signed for a club-record £93.2m in 2016, showed flashes of brilliance but rarely delivered consistently high-level performances. Casemiro, who left this past May, arrived in 2022 as a five-time Champions League winner, but at 30 his best days were behind him, with only his first and final seasons at Old Trafford reaching genuine top-tier quality.
Other names added to central midfield over the years - Fred, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera, Sofyan Amrabat, Daley Blind, and Manuel Ugarte - have largely failed to elevate the team. Kobbie Mainoo stands as a rare success story from the academy, scoring the winning goal in the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City and starting for England in that summer's Euros final. Yet even he was sidelined by Ruben Amorim before Carrick's January appointment revived his prospects at the club.
This summer marks a clear shift in strategy. United have brought in Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m and Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £48m plus £2m in potential add-ons. The club is also closing in on a deal for Brighton's Carlos Baleba, valued at around £70m. Should that move go through, Baleba would join Santos as a defensive midfielder, while Tielemans operates as an attacking option alongside Mainoo.
Mason Mount has also emerged as a midfield possibility after impressing during pre-season, though a recent injury sustained in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain has once again interrupted his progress. Carrick remains unconcerned about the setback. "First of all Mason is a top player - we have seen that he was one of our best players in the first games," the manager said. "He was outstanding and has picked up a bit of a knock. But there are no dramas. He has missed some football over recent years and he wants to be fit and be in full rhythm and we want to help him. Mason will be back soon."
United begin their campaign away at newly promoted Hull City on Saturday before facing another promoted side, Ipswich, the following week. Despite the seemingly gentle opening fixtures, Carrick dismissed suggestions that this represents an easy start, particularly with a trip to Everton and a home clash against Manchester City on 13 September looming shortly after.
Having steadied the ship following Amorim's turbulent exit and guided United to a third-place finish last season, Carrick now faces a fuller test with domestic cup and European commitments added to his workload. Should Baleba's transfer be finalized alongside a new left-back - with Newcastle's Lewis Hall and Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly both under consideration - Carrick will have overseen four significant additions this summer.
Speaking about United's opening opponents, Carrick acknowledged the unpredictability that comes with facing a newly promoted club. "That is the beauty of the new season, for teams coming up there tend to be a few changes, that is the challenge playing against them - we are fully aware of that. Mentally and physically we have done a lot of work," he said.
With a rebuilt midfield now in place, questions remain over other areas of the squad, particularly at centre-back. But for the first time in years, United's manager finds himself with genuine depth and quality through the middle of the pitch - and with that comes heightened expectation.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.