Michael Carrick says Manchester United have improved the squad this summer, but he also made it clear the work is not finished. The club have signed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow so far, and Carrick said United still "want more" and "need more" before the window closes on September 1.

Carrick's message on the window

The central point in Carrick's comments is straightforward. United prioritised midfield recruitment after Casemiro’s departure, and the arrivals so far show that plan has already moved beyond the talking stage. Tielemans has rated 7.44 across five appearances this season, while Santos has also been added to the group.

Carrick's line was still unmissable. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "We're delighted with the players we've brought in, first and foremost. We've improved the group. We've improved the squad in different ways... We always want to improve. We want more, we need more."

What United are still looking at

United are still in the market for a left-back and potentially a third central midfielder before the deadline. Sky Sports reported interest in Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Eduardo Camavinga, while other reports have also linked Monaco and a wider midfield list that includes Adam Wharton, Sander Berge, Carlos Baleba, Alex Scott, Tyler Adams and Lamine Camara.

That spread of names is part of why Carrick's warning feels deliberate. United finished third in the 2025 Premier League table with 71 points, but they sit 16th at the start of the 2026 Premier League season. The gap between those two points is exactly the kind of reason a manager keeps pushing in the market.

Rashford is part of the wider conversation too. Carrick has been calm about bringing Marcus Rashford back in after last season on loan at Barcelona, and he said the forward is in good form and can bring a different balance to the squad. United may have added bodies already, but Carrick's own words suggest they still want at least one more move before September 1.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →