Man Utd's Revamped Midfield Takes Shape — But Are the Red Devils Still Missing a Vital Piece?

Manchester United entered the summer with a wide range of possibilities surrounding a crucial midfield overhaul, addressing both last season's thin squad depth and the exit of Casemiro.

Yet circumstances have shifted and developed almost on a daily basis during what has still been only seven weeks since the final whistle of the 2025–26 campaign.

It was always apparent that the Red Devils required more than one—possibly three—new midfielders to fill the squad's gaps, likely sourced from varying price ranges.

A transfer for Atalanta's Éderson was agreed back in May but has since collapsed following an apparent signal from Manchester that United plan to put it on hold.

Aurélien Tchouaméni was a genuine target right up until the moment he penned a new Real Madrid deal—a familiar pattern—while the club declined to stretch their finances to the levels Tottenham Hotspur did for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, or Manchester City for Elliot Anderson.

A £50 million ($67 million) agreement for Andrey Santos, acquired from Chelsea, is now confirmed. There is growing expectation that Youri Tielemans will follow shortly for just £35 million ($46.9 million), thanks to a surprisingly convenient release clause in his Aston Villa contract. Both signings combined would cost the same as what Spurs paid for Fernandes alone, making it appear to be astute business.

Carrick will have—assuming the Tielemans deal is completed—three senior options for two central midfield spots in a 4-2-3-1 setup. In terms of sheer numbers, that mirrors what he had last season with Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte. However, with a heavier fixture list and Ugarte finding it harder to earn minutes as the season wore on, greater rotation is likely.

Bruno Fernandes can drop deeper when required, as Ruben Amorim preferred last season. But doing so pulls the captain away from the No. 10 role, from which his remarkable assist output in the second half of the campaign helped him break the Premier League's single-season record.

More Defensive-Oriented Midfielder Still Needed

Given the system and the ever-present, tireless Fernandes, it is unlikely that Tielemans, Santos and Mainoo would all feature simultaneously, certainly not from the opening whistle.

With overlapping skill sets across the trio, pinpointing a clear first-choice pairing is also no straightforward task. That is actually an advantage, as regular midweek fixtures will likely demand frequent rotation.

United supporters would probably favour seeing Mainoo start the majority of matches. Carrick is clearly a fan, having made the homegrown talent one of the first names on his teamsheet from January onward.

Mainoo's strengths as a progressive passer and attack-minded dribbler are best complemented by a more defensively focused partner, which is why his partnership with Casemiro functioned so effectively once Carrick reunited them at the start of 2026.

Santos is perhaps a 'safe' partner for Mainoo, given that the Brazilian demonstrated at Chelsea how he can provide a stable platform that allows teammates to flourish. He will look to receive the ball and drive play forward himself, but his presence is equally about maintaining balance. If Santos, who appears to play with a commendable discipline, sits and holds, Mainoo is free to push forward and express himself.

Mainoo and Tielemans, both intelligent distributors and creative thinkers, could combine effectively in matches where United expect to dominate possession against more defensive sides. When facing stronger opposition and Carrick's team may need to dig in, that pairing—built on technical quality rather than physicality—could struggle for ball-winning grit and disruption. Santos is also someone who favours interceptions over tackles and is not necessarily the direct solution to that problem.

Tielemans and Santos similarly possess qualities that complement one another as a duo, but again, perhaps not in every scenario where greater defensive intensity is demanded.

Resurrecting Carlos Baleba Interest Would Make Sense

The persistent need for a physically imposing defensive midfielder is what made the Tchouaméni pursuit so logical. The Éderson deal, another player with the right combative qualities, is not progressing at present, though reports indicate it has not been entirely shelved and could be revisited before September.

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There would be good reason to revive interest in Carlos Baleba, after last summer's pursuit was quickly ended by Brighton & Hove Albion's steep asking price. However, a somewhat underwhelming 2025–26 season for him and the absence of a World Cup showcase should see that valuation drop.

Adam Wharton is more comparable to Mainoo or Tielemans and is probably not worth chasing at this stage. While Bournemouth's Alex Scott is not a conventional defensive midfielder, his pressing intensity and well-timed challenges could still make an approach worth considering. The main obstacle, however, is that his price tag has become significantly inflated.