After90Sports Premier League 2026/27 Series — Manchester United, Part Two

After Michael Carrick guided Manchester United back to third place and Champions League football, the summer question became clear: did United need another revolution, or simply a few precise additions to complete what Carrick had already started?

A Different Kind of Transfer Window

It is easy to describe almost every Manchester United summer as a "rebuild."

But the summer of 2026 feels different.

United have not attempted to replace half of the starting XI.

They have not built the window around one blockbuster signing designed to dominate the headlines.

Instead, their most important moves have focused on one area that clearly needed attention:

Midfield.

As of 18 August 2026, Manchester United have added three senior players:

Player	From	Position	Reported Fee
Andrey Santos	Chelsea	Midfielder	£48m + £2m add-ons
Youri Tielemans	Aston Villa	Midfielder	£35m
Karl Darlow	Leeds United	Goalkeeper	Free transfer

That puts United's guaranteed spending on the two paid transfers at roughly £83 million, potentially rising to around £85 million once the add-ons in the Santos deal are included.

But the window is not finished yet.

The Premier League summer transfer window closes on 1 September 2026 at 23:00 UK time, meaning Carrick's squad could still change before the season settles into its rhythm.

Why Did Carrick Start With Midfield?

If Part One of this series established anything, it was that Carrick's success depended heavily on restoring balance to United's midfield.

But the midfield that finished last season could not simply be carried unchanged into 2026/27.

Casemiro left after his contract expired.

Manuel Ugarte suffered a knee ligament injury during the World Cup.

Kobbie Mainoo is still at an early stage of his career.

And with Champions League football returning to Old Trafford, United will need significantly more depth than they required during the second half of last season.

That is why this summer may look less glamorous than the attacking rebuild of 2025.

Structurally, however, it may prove even more important.

Signing One: Andrey Santos — New Energy in the Heart of the Team

Andrey Santos was United's first major signing after Michael Carrick was confirmed as permanent head coach.

The 22-year-old Brazilian joined from Chelsea on a contract running until June 2031 for a reported £48 million initial fee plus £2 million in potential add-ons.

Santos arrives with considerable experience for his age.

After joining Chelsea in 2023, he spent time on loan with Vasco da Gama, Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg before returning to Chelsea and making 43 appearances during the 2025/26 season.

But his importance to United goes beyond age or potential.

It is about the profile of midfielder Carrick needed.

What Does Santos Add?

Carrick needed a midfielder capable of giving United more athleticism and mobility through the centre of the pitch.

Santos offers a player who can operate box to box, press aggressively, compete physically and help carry the ball from midfield into attacking areas.

And he is only 22.

United are not signing him as a short-term fix.

They are signing him as someone who could become part of the spine of the team for years.

After90Sports view:

Santos should not be viewed as a direct replacement for Casemiro.

That may actually be the positive.

United do not need to find a younger copy of Casemiro.

They need to build a new midfield suited to Carrick's football.

Signing Two: Youri Tielemans — The Experience United Needed

If Santos represents energy and long-term development, Youri Tielemans offers something different:

Control and experience.

Manchester United paid approximately £35 million to sign the Belgian midfielder from Aston Villa on a five-year contract.

Tielemans, now 29, arrives after a season in which he helped Villa win the Europa League, contributing two goals and seven assists in 35 appearances across all competitions.

He also captained Belgium to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

But perhaps the most interesting part of the transfer is how Carrick intends to use him.

Tielemans has said Carrick wants him to play with greater freedom and help organise the team on the pitch.

That gives us a strong indication of the role United expect him to perform.

Tielemans Is More Than Another Midfielder

Manchester United have had plenty of talented midfielders over the last few years.

The problem has often been the combination.

One player could win the ball but struggled to dictate tempo.

Another could pass but became vulnerable under pressure.

Another could advance forward but left too much space behind him.

Tielemans gives Carrick a midfielder capable of connecting those phases.

He does not need to be United's fastest player.

He does not need to top the tackling charts.

His value may come from understanding:

When should United accelerate the game?

When should they keep possession?

When should the ball go directly into Bruno or the front line?

That kind of decision-making can be more valuable than traditional box-score statistics suggest.

Santos + Tielemans: Has Carrick Found His New Midfield Pair?

This is where United's summer becomes particularly interesting.

Premier League analysis has described Santos and Tielemans as effectively creating a completely new central midfield for Manchester United, with complementary characteristics.

On paper, the division of responsibility makes sense.

Andrey Santos

Mobility — pressing — duels — forward running — energy

Youri Tielemans

Organisation — passing — tempo control — experience — deep progression

Bruno Fernandes

Creativity — final pass — movement behind the striker — chance creation

The balance looks better.

Most importantly, it should allow Carrick to keep Bruno Fernandes close to the penalty area instead of forcing him back into deeper zones simply to get United playing.

What About Kobbie Mainoo?

The arrival of Santos and Tielemans does not necessarily push Kobbie Mainoo aside.

It could do the opposite.

Greater midfield depth may allow Carrick to manage Mainoo's minutes more intelligently instead of placing the burden of Manchester United's midfield on a young player still developing.

Mainoo was one of the biggest beneficiaries of Carrick's appointment last January.

Now Carrick has more combinations available depending on the opponent.

We could see:

Tielemans + Santos

or:

Tielemans + Mainoo

or:

Santos + Mainoo

And when Ugarte returns, there will be another more defensive option available.

This is not just additional depth.

It is additional variety.

Karl Darlow — Not a Headline Signing, but a Logical One

United's third senior signing was very different.

Experienced Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow joined after his Leeds United contract expired, signing a deal until June 2028 with an option for another year.

Darlow is 35 and has made 279 senior appearances during his career, including 74 in the Premier League.

This is not the signing that will determine whether United challenge for the title.

But it reflects something important.

Champions League football means Carrick needs a deeper and more experienced squad, not simply a strong starting eleven.

Darlow adds reliable experience to the goalkeeping department without consuming a significant part of the transfer budget.

Departures: The End of a Chapter

United's list of departures may be almost as significant as the arrivals.

Casemiro left when his contract expired.

Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia also departed at the end of their deals.

Rasmus Højlund, meanwhile, completed a permanent transfer to Napoli following his loan spell.

United reportedly received €50 million from Højlund's move after the Danish striker scored 16 goals in 44 appearances during his season in Italy.

These departures are about more than reducing the squad.

They also remove several long-running situations that no longer clearly belonged to the current project.

United have spent too many recent transfer windows carrying players without a defined role in the next phase of the club.

This summer appears to be reducing that uncertainty.

Major First-Team Changes

Departing Player	Type of Exit
Casemiro	Contract expired
Jadon Sancho	Contract expired
Tyrell Malacia	Contract expired
Rasmus Højlund	Permanent transfer to Napoli

At senior level, the biggest structural changes therefore come in two areas.

Midfield

Casemiro out → Santos + Tielemans in

Goalkeeper depth

Darlow added for experience and cover

The attack, by contrast, has not yet received another major addition.

And this is where questions remain.

Is Manchester United's Transfer Window Finished?

Not necessarily.

And perhaps it should not be.

Official Premier League analysis has identified left wing as one of United's clearest remaining needs.

The reason is simple.

Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all naturally prefer the right side or inside-right areas.

That could make United's attack too predictable in certain matches.

Carrick wants a team capable of attacking quickly after turnovers.

But if the threat repeatedly comes from one side, opponents will adapt.

A natural left-sided attacker could provide the balance United still lack.

Then Marcus Rashford Returned...

This is where the summer becomes much more complicated.

Marcus Rashford returned to Manchester United after loan spells with Aston Villa and Barcelona.

He had not played for United since December 2024 before appearing again as a substitute in the summer friendly against Milan.

His future is still not completely settled, but Carrick has described him as a Manchester United player, while Harry Maguire has publicly suggested that keeping Rashford would be a major asset.

There is an obvious irony here.

The clearest positional need in United's squad may be left wing.

And one of the most talented left-sided forwards available to the club is already at Carrington.

Can Carrick Revive Rashford Too?

That could become one of the defining stories of the season.

At his best, Rashford gives United something none of their other forwards provide in quite the same way:

Direct pace from the left and the ability to attack space behind the defence.

If Carrick can restore him, United could potentially field:

Rashford — Šeško — Mbeumo

with Bruno Fernandes behind them.

Or:

Rashford — Cunha — Amad

depending on the opposition.

But the bigger question is not purely tactical.

Can the relationship between Rashford, the club and the supporters be rebuilt after everything that has happened?

That answer will not come from the transfer market.

It will come on the pitch.

What About Another Huge Signing?

At this stage, Manchester United do not appear determined to chase another £100 million player.

Carrick has suggested before the new season that the club will not make a signing of that scale, with financial restrictions and a greater emphasis on finding the right player rather than simply the most expensive one.

Current spending on Santos and Tielemans is approaching £85 million if all potential add-ons are included.

That may represent a change in transfer philosophy.

Not:

Who is the biggest name we can buy?

But:

Which player does this team actually need?

For Manchester United, that would be a healthy shift if it continues.

Before and After the Summer of 2026

Manchester United midfield before the window

Casemiro
Kobbie Mainoo
Manuel Ugarte
Mason Mount
Bruno Fernandes

Midfield after the changes

Youri Tielemans
Andrey Santos
Kobbie Mainoo
Manuel Ugarte
Mason Mount
Bruno Fernandes

The difference is not simply numerical.

The profile of the midfield has changed.

Carrick now has a better mixture of youth and experience, energy and control, with multiple ways to construct the midfield behind Bruno Fernandes.

What Does the Squad Still Need?

Despite the good work in midfield, three major questions remain.

1. Left Wing

This is the clearest positional need if the Rashford reintegration does not work.

United need a natural threat on the left to stop their attacking structure from leaning too heavily toward the right.

2. Defensive Depth

United conceded 50 Premier League goals last season.

Lisandro Martínez's return matters.

Harry Maguire's improvement under Carrick was significant.

But Champions League football will place much greater pressure on the defensive unit.

The squad may still need more depth if United want to compete seriously on multiple fronts.

3. Surviving a Full Season

This may be the biggest issue of all.

Carrick produced outstanding results last season while United had no European football and had already exited the domestic cups early.

That advantage disappears now.

United will need to compete both domestically and in Europe.

The success of this transfer window therefore cannot be judged only by the strength of the starting XI.

It will also be judged by what happens when Carrick needs to make five or six changes without the overall level collapsing.

Is Manchester United Stronger?

At this stage, the answer is:

Yes.

But not because United have signed more famous names.

The squad simply looks more logical.

Youri Tielemans adds control and experience.

Andrey Santos adds movement, energy and development potential.

Karl Darlow adds depth and experience in goal.

Casemiro's departure closes one chapter.

The exits of Sancho, Malacia and Højlund reduce several long-standing uncertainties.

But there is a major difference between:

Being stronger than last season

and:

Being ready to win the Premier League.

Manchester United appear closer to the first.

They have not yet proven the second.

How Do United Compare With Their Rivals?

This is where realism matters.

Arsenal enter the season as Premier League champions.

Manchester City are beginning a new era of their own after Pep Guardiola's departure.

Liverpool and Chelsea have also made significant changes.

The Premier League rarely gives teams much time to experiment.

United do not simply need to improve on last season.

They need to improve faster than the teams around them.

That is why the final weeks of the window still matter.

Not necessarily because United need another blockbuster.

They may simply need the right final piece.

After90Sports Transfer Window Rating

Current Rating: 8/10

Best signing based on positional need: Andrey Santos

Signing most likely to make an immediate impact: Youri Tielemans

Smartest depth signing: Karl Darlow

Most significant tactical departure: Casemiro

Largest incoming transfer fee from a departure: €50 million for Rasmus Højlund's move to Napoli

Biggest unresolved question: Marcus Rashford's future

Most important position still to resolve: Left wing

Guaranteed spending on paid transfers: Approximately £83 million

Potential total including Santos add-ons: Approximately £85 million

Final Verdict

Manchester United's summer 2026 window does not look like the dramatic "revolutions" Old Trafford has seen before.

That may be its greatest strength.

The club has not tried to change everything.

It identified a specific structural weakness — central midfield — and addressed it with two very different but potentially complementary players.

Tielemans gives Carrick another organiser on the pitch.

Santos gives him energy and long-term potential.

The question now becomes:

Does Manchester United stop after fixing the midfield, or use the final weeks of the window to address the last obvious weakness in the squad?

If Rashford stays and Carrick manages to restore him to his best, the solution may already be inside the club.

If Rashford leaves?

Then left wing could become the final major piece Manchester United need before attempting to turn "The Return?" from a question into an answer.

Next in the Series

Part Three — Carrick's Manchester United: How Will They Play in 2026/27?

Next, we move from the transfer market to the pitch:

Expected starting XI
4-2-3-1 or a tactical evolution?
Roles for Tielemans and Santos
Where does Kobbie Mainoo fit?
How Carrick gives Bruno freedom
Rashford, Mbeumo, Amad and Cunha
How Benjamin Šeško will be used
Building from the back
Pressing and transitions
Tactical strengths and weaknesses
Multiple potential line-ups for different opponents

Sources

Note: Transfer status and figures in this article are updated through 18 August 2026. The transfer window remains open until 1 September, so Manchester United's incoming and outgoing business may still change before the deadline.

Part Two: Summer 2026 Rebuild — Has the Transfer Window Given Carrick the Team He Needs?