Carrick at Manchester United: three names to rebuild the midfield
Michael Carrick’s arrival in the Manchester United dugout brought with it an urgent task: to reassemble a midfield that lost Casemiro and saw Manuel Ugarte suffer a serious injury, with the 2026 World Cup already on the horizon. The Red Devils’ board knows there is no room for improvisation. A real rebuild is needed.
What United are looking for – and why it is difficult
The profile sought is twofold: a midfielder capable of sustaining an intense rhythm for at least 40 matches in the season and a versatile player to act as a direct partner for Kobbie Mainoo. It sounds simple on paper. It isn’t. With Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali heading to other clubs, United’s scouting department had to widen the radar and revisit options that were not yet at the top of the list.
Carrick’s philosophy points to game control, clean build-up and organised pressing. Recovering the ball is not enough. The midfield has to be the heart of the team.
The three candidates on the radar
The most talked-about name internally is Carlos Baleba, of Brighton. At 22, the Cameroonian went through a turbulent season, with exit rumours that never materialised. But the scouts’ assessment is positive. Baleba impresses with his ability to close down spaces with firm challenges and, unlike a classic holding midfielder, he carries the ball with ease, accelerating the team’s transitions. Under Carrick’s guidance, he could develop as a shield for Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes.
Mamadou Sangare, of Lens, represents another profile: tactical intelligence and sharp game-reading. The comparison with Aurélien Tchouaméni is no exaggeration – Sangare breaks up attacks before they form and has good distribution. His lighter frame may be a problem in direct duels, but two goals and two assists in his last nine Ligue 1 games show he is not merely a destroyer. He is a complete player in the making.
The third on the list is Alex Scott, of Bournemouth. Shaped by Andoni Iraola’s meticulous work, Scott combines intense marking with refined technical control under pressure. His style recalls Mainoo himself: he plays out of the press with quality and distributes with judgement. The doubt lies in his aerial game, still inconsistent. But the prospect of forming a young pairing with Mainoo excites the coaching staff.
Plan Bs are already agreed
United did not stop at the three priorities. Ederson, of Atalanta, and Andrey Santos, of Chelsea, are already in advanced talks with the club. The Brazilian from the Bergamo side adds intensity and attacking presence, useful in the 4-2-3-1 that Carrick tends to adopt. Santos, in turn, offers depth to the defensive sector – insurance against the unexpected in a season that has already begun with significant absences.
The message Old Trafford wants to send this summer goes beyond the signings. It is about identity. Who does Carrick want this team to be? The answer is being built, position by position, name by name.
