Michael Carrick is backing Manchester United to think big this summer, but his main message has stayed the same: the squad still needs more work. He said United want more signings, and he is happy to talk about something special while the window is still open.
United's transfer push
Carrick said, "We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that." United have already spent £83m to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, with Karl Darlow also joining on a free.
Even with that business done, Carrick still sees gaps. He says United have weaknesses at left-back and in central midfield, and the club return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
Last season gives the optimism some backing. United finished third and ended on 71 points, while their recent league run brought 13 points from five games and 11 goals, which is a decent base for a side talking about competing higher up.
Rashford and the return to bigger ambitions
Carrick has also kept Marcus Rashford in the frame without saying too much about his future. He was given multiple chances to say Rashford would still be a United player when the transfer window closes on 1 September, but stopped short of a direct answer.
He did say, "It's been good to have Marcus around this week. He's our player. He's a good player, and he gives us something a little bit different." Rashford is also likely to return in United colours against Leeds in Wroclaw, Poland, on Saturday.
Carrick has been just as open about the ceiling he sees for the team. "We've definitely got the potential to achieve something really special. I'm not hiding from the fact, and we should aim to do that," he said. That is a stronger statement than the usual pre-season noise, but it sits alongside the more practical point that United are still looking for more before the window shuts.
The title talk only carries weight if the squad gets stronger between now and 1 September.
FAQ
Why is Michael Carrick still asking Manchester United for more signings?
Carrick said, "We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that." He also said United still have weaknesses at left-back and in central midfield despite already spending £83m on Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, with Karl Darlow also joining on a free.
Can Manchester United talk about winning the title under Michael Carrick?
Carrick thinks they can. He said, "We've definitely got the potential to achieve something really special. I'm not hiding from the fact, and we should aim to do that." United finished third and on 71 points last season, and they return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
Will Marcus Rashford still be involved at Manchester United after 1 September?
Carrick would not confirm that Rashford will still be a United player when the transfer window closes on 1 September. He did say it has been good to have Rashford around this week, called him "our player", and said he gives United something a little bit different.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
