Manchester United have spent around £85million rebuilding Michael Carrick’s midfield this summer, but their final pre-season defeat showed why one major piece could still be missing.
Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans represent significant upgrades to Carrick’s options following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s serious injury.
Both offer quality in possession, but United’s 4-2 defeat against AC Milan provided another reminder that technical ability alone may not give Carrick the midfield balance he needs.
Man Utd’s £85m midfield rebuild lacks one key ingredient
United’s plan to add another midfielder has existed throughout the summer.
Opta’s squad analysis identified an athletic, ball-winning midfielder as the clearest profile still missing after the arrivals of Santos and Tielemans.
The pair bring control, passing quality and intelligence, while Kobbie Mainoo gives Carrick another technically gifted option.
What United lack is a midfielder whose biggest strengths are covering ground, protecting space and physically disrupting opponents.
That weakness became more noticeable against Milan.
United twice took the lead but struggled to regain control when Ruben Amorim’s side increased the tempo. Milan found increasing space between midfield and defence before scoring three unanswered goals.
ReadManUtd highlighted after the defeat that Carrick’s existing transfer request looked even more important after his side’s second-half collapse.
Carrick may need a different midfielder rather than another star
The solution does not necessarily require another £70m or £80m signing.
United already have creators.
Tielemans can dictate possession, Santos is capable of progressing the ball and Mainoo remains one of the club’s most technically secure midfielders.
Another player offering the same qualities risks increasing numbers without correcting the balance.
Sky Sports reached a similar conclusion earlier this summer, arguing that Carrick’s next midfielder needs to add greater athleticism to the group.
That explains why players such as Carlos Baleba, João Gomes and other physically strong midfielders continue to appear around United’s transfer search.
The specific target can change.
The required profile looks increasingly clear.
AC Milan defeat gives Man Utd transfer search fresh urgency
Pre-season results should never be treated like Premier League matches.
Carrick changed his team repeatedly against Milan and several players were still building fitness after returning late from international duty.
But United are now only days away from opening their Premier League campaign at Hull City.
Carrick cannot afford for his midfield to become vulnerable every time a match becomes stretched.
United have already spent heavily rebuilding an area that desperately needed attention.
The next signing does not have to be the most glamorous midfielder on the market.
It may simply need to be the one who gives Carrick something his £85m rebuild still does not have.
