Michael Carrick will boast a tantalising midfield next season if Manchester United can secure their primary targets. Bolstering the centre of the park is a key objective ahead of Carrick’s first full campaign at the helm.
Casemiro has departed after his contract expired, while Manuel Ugarte, who has endured a frustrating spell at Old Trafford, could also be shown the door. Multiple central midfielders have been linked with United.
A potential swoop for Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni has been suggested, while Elliot Anderson is highly rated, although the Nottingham Forest midfielder is said to be leaning towards a switch to Manchester City. His valuation of at least £100million prompted the club to explore alternative options.
United are already on the cusp of wrapping up their first summer acquisition in Atalanta midfielder Ederson for a fee in the region of £38m. But the midfield recruitment drive won’t stop there.
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United have been linked with Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes of West Ham. The former would represent the pricier alternative – around £87m – as the Italian has four years left on his contract. Fernandes, who United pursued last summer, is certainly obtainable following the Hammers’ drop into the Championship.
The 21-year-old could be secured for around £60m. Given his age and existing connection with international team-mate Bruno Fernandes, he appears an ideal candidate.
Should Tonali and Fernandes arrive alongside Ederson, in addition to Kobbie Mainoo cementing his place and penning a fresh contract, Carrick would possess a wealth of quality midfield options.
Carrick has typically favoured a 4-2-3-1 system, deploying two midfielders behind Bruno Fernandes, meaning he would be unable to squeeze Ederson, Mainoo, Tonali and Fernandes into the same starting XI. Nevertheless, given the rigours of the Premier League and the return to Champions League football, squad depth will be essential.
View 3 ImagesSandro Tonali has been linked with a move to United(Image: Getty Images)
Any pairing from that quartet would be the envy of most clubs. Fernandes can also provide No.10 cover for namesake Bruno owing to his adaptability, potentially paving the way for Mason Mount to exit alongside Ugarte after another injury-plagued season for the former England international.
It is shaping up to be a hectic summer for United, whose revival under Carrick during the second half of last season has bolstered their financial standing. United recently published financial results for the nine months to March 31, revealing an operating profit of £37.7m, compared with a £3.2m loss the year prior. This is despite shelling out £16.7m in compensation following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
United chief executive Omar Berrada said: “We feel very positive about the club’s progress this season and the continuing positive impact of our business transformation initiatives.
View 3 ImagesMateus Fernandes is set to leave West Ham(Image: Getty Images)
“Finishing third in the Premier League and securing qualification to next season’s UEFA Champions League is testament to our men’s team’s improved form on the pitch. Michael Carrick has done an excellent job in the 17 games he has overseen and we are delighted that he will continue as head coach.”
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That confidence in Carrick looks set to be backed up with substantial investment in the transfer market, particularly in the pursuit of new midfield reinforcements.
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