Manchester United spent £155million rebuilding their midfield this summer, but Michael Carrick’s new options have created a very different selection battle at Old Trafford.
Carlos Baleba completed a £70m move from Brighton after United had already signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m.
Sky Sports’ complete Premier League transfer list confirms the enormous level of investment.
That spending was deliberate.
Casemiro left for Inter Miami and Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious knee injury during the World Cup, leaving Carrick determined to rebuild the centre of his team.
United have certainly done that.
But the consequences extend beyond the three players they bought.
Kobbie Mainoo has suddenly been presented with enormous competition. Bruno Fernandes could finally be released from some of his deeper responsibilities, while Ugarte could eventually return to find an entirely different midfield waiting for him.
United fixed the problem they identified.
Carrick now has to work out how all the pieces fit together.
Carlos Baleba completes the Man Utd midfield rebuild
The £155m figure looks even more remarkable when compared with where United stood midway through August.
Santos and Tielemans had arrived, but ReadManUtd argued that the £85m midfield rebuild still contained one glaring weakness.
United needed athleticism.
They needed somebody capable of protecting space when possession was lost without asking Fernandes to retreat closer to his own defence.
Baleba was the answer.
United ultimately agreed a deal worth £65m guaranteed and another £5m in add-ons, according to Sky Sports.
Reuters also reported that Carrick had viewed the Cameroon international as a long-term target.
It explains why United were prepared to commit another huge fee even after spending £85m on Santos and Tielemans.
Baleba has not been able to make his debut yet after arriving with an ankle injury.
Carrick confirmed he could be absent for up to three weeks, with ReadManUtd providing the latest Baleba injury timeline.
Once fit, however, it is difficult to imagine a £70m signing spending much time outside Carrick’s strongest side.
That is where the selection fight becomes interesting.
Kobbie Mainoo has responded exactly how Carrick needed
Mainoo could easily look at United’s transfer activity and wonder where it leaves him.
Santos is only 22. Baleba is also 22.
These are not short-term signings brought in to cover until Mainoo reaches his peak.
United have committed £120m to two midfielders from roughly the same generation.
Then Mainoo produced his answer against Ipswich Town.
Carrick restored the academy graduate to his starting XI following the opening defeat against Hull City and Mainoo was outstanding.
ReadManUtd rated him 9/10 during the 5-2 victory.
His progressive passing improved United immediately.
Mainoo helped move the ball into dangerous areas and was involved in the sequence which eventually resulted in Fernandes completing his hat-trick.
It was exactly the sort of performance he needed.
Competition does not mean Mainoo has suddenly become surplus to requirements.
It does mean his position is no longer guaranteed.
Carrick can eventually choose between Baleba’s defensive athleticism, Tielemans’ experience, Santos’ ability in possession and Mainoo’s capacity to carry and progress the ball through pressure.
For the first time in a while, United’s midfield problem might be having too many credible options rather than too few.
Andrey Santos now faces a battle of his own
Santos appeared to have established himself quickly after arriving from Chelsea.
Carrick even described the Brazilian as a “dream” to work with following his impressive pre-season.
ReadManUtd covered Carrick’s glowing Santos verdict after the midfielder immediately impressed his new manager.
But spending £50m does not guarantee him a place.
Carrick left Santos out of the starting XI against Ipswich and brought Mainoo into midfield instead.
United subsequently produced their best attacking performance of the young Premier League season.
That creates another decision.
Santos should play plenty of football across a season which includes the Champions League, but he now needs to establish exactly what makes him indispensable.
Tielemans brings experience and control.
Baleba provides qualities United specifically paid another £70m to acquire.
Mainoo has now reminded Carrick what he can offer.
Santos has significant competition.
Bruno Fernandes could be the biggest winner
The most important consequence of United’s spending may have nothing to do with who starts alongside Baleba.
It could be where Fernandes receives the ball.
United have relied on their captain for almost everything.
Last season he broke the Premier League’s single-season assist record with 21 before being named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
Yet Fernandes has frequently been forced deeper to help United move possession through midfield.
That takes their most productive attacking player away from the areas where he can hurt opponents.
Against Ipswich, the difference was obvious.
Fernandes scored a hat-trick and created Bryan Mbeumo‘s late goal during the 5-2 victory.
Carrick specifically highlighted the connections through midfield afterwards, while ReadManUtd’s analysis of Fernandes’ Ipswich masterclass showed how damaging he remains when operating close to goal.
That should be one of the objectives of United’s £155m investment.
Baleba, Santos and Tielemans were not signed merely to improve possession statistics.
They should make United functional enough through midfield that Fernandes does not constantly have to solve problems himself.
Give him the freedom to operate higher and United could unlock an even more dangerous version of their captain.
Manuel Ugarte faces a very different Man Utd future
Ugarte’s situation requires more patience.
The Uruguay international is recovering from the ACL injury he suffered at the World Cup and is expected to remain unavailable for a significant period.
ReadManUtd’s latest injury update reported that Ugarte has undergone surgery and begun his rehabilitation.
His immediate priority is recovery.
But whenever he is ready to return, the competitive picture will have changed dramatically.
Casemiro has gone.
In another scenario, that could have created an obvious opening for Ugarte.
Instead, United spent £155m before he was able to return.
Baleba’s arrival is particularly significant because United specifically wanted greater athleticism and defensive coverage in central midfield.
Those are areas where Ugarte would expect to compete.
Nobody should make definitive judgments about his future while he is recovering from such a serious injury.
Nevertheless, the route back into Carrick’s strongest XI is clearly more complicated than it was before the summer.
Michael Carrick got what he wanted at Man Utd
Carrick made no secret of wanting further additions during August.
Speaking before Baleba arrived, he told Sky Sports that United still “want” and “need” to strengthen before the deadline.
The club responded.
United did not solve every issue.
They failed to strengthen at left-back despite their interest in Lewis Hall, while senior players were reportedly surprised that another striker did not arrive.
But there can be few complaints about the investment in midfield.
United identified the centre of the pitch as their priority and committed £155m to transforming it.
Now comes the more difficult part.
Baleba needs to recover. Santos has to prove he deserves to start. Mainoo must keep responding to the increased competition.
Carrick also needs to ensure all that investment gives Fernandes greater freedom rather than simply creating an expensive rotation.
Manchester United’s midfield hierarchy has changed.
By the time everybody is fit, Carrick could face one of the toughest selection decisions of his first full season in charge.
