Michael Carrick insists Manchester United emerged from the summer transfer window with a stronger squad after spending heavily to rebuild his midfield.
United finished the window with a reported £118million net spend, adding Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and goalkeeper Karl Darlow to Carrick’s first-team options.
Despite failing to add the defensive reinforcement many expected, Carrick told Sky Sports that he is “convinced” United are stronger than they were at the start of the summer.
Michael Carrick happy with Man Utd transfer business
United concentrated much of their spending on completely reshaping central midfield.
Baleba arrived from Brighton in a deal worth up to £70m, while Tielemans and Santos were also recruited to give Carrick a very different group of options.
Carrick believes the collective improvement matters more than comparing United’s spending with their Premier League rivals.
Speaking during a charity golf day for his foundation, he explained that the objective of any window is to finish it stronger than when it began and believes United achieved exactly that.
Sky Sports reports United’s £118m net spend was actually lower than newly promoted Ipswich and Coventry, despite significant investment in Carrick’s midfield.
The manager also acknowledged that the market had been challenging because of the level of spending elsewhere in the Premier League.
United nevertheless refused to force deals during the final hours.
Their late pursuit of Leicester midfielder Louis Page was abandoned after the clubs failed to agree a valuation, with ReadManUtd reporting that Leicester wanted a package potentially worth £15m.
Man Utd still left with defensive questions
Carrick’s optimism does not mean United addressed every weakness.
A new left-back had been considered during the summer, while defensive depth also remained a talking point heading into the final week of the window.
That leaves Luke Shaw as Carrick’s principal specialist senior option on the left, although Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and other members of the squad can provide cover.
United also opted against forcing Joshua Zirkzee out to create additional spending room.
ReadManUtd reported on deadline day that United were comfortable keeping Zirkzee, with his versatility and role within the squad viewed positively.
Carrick therefore enters the autumn with a deeper midfield but some familiar questions remaining elsewhere.
Ipswich response gives Carrick encouragement
United’s first two Premier League matches have already demonstrated why Carrick believes the squad can improve.
The opening 2-0 defeat at Hull City exposed significant problems, but United responded by beating Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford.
Carrick told Sky Sports that the mentality shown in recovering from that setback was more pleasing than the scoreline itself.
Bruno Fernandes produced a hat-trick and an assist against Ipswich, while Kobbie Mainoo impressed after returning to the starting midfield.
Baleba is still waiting to make his competitive debut because of an ankle problem, meaning Carrick has yet to use the player who could ultimately become the centrepiece of United’s midfield rebuild.
The manager is nevertheless satisfied with the work completed.
Whether United’s decision not to strengthen the defence proves costly will become clearer as Premier League and Champions League commitments begin to overlap.
