Youri Tielemans Revelation Speaks Volumes for Chaos at Man Utd
Michael Carrick has gone, but Manchester United’s transfer strategy remains under scrutiny after a disastrous start to the season—and reports suggest their summer midfield signings were well down the club’s wish list.
Premier League · Transfer scrutiny
At the November international break, United sit in the Premier League’s relegation zone with just one league victory all season, against newly promoted Ipswich Town. The club rated England’s most valuable by Forbes has struggled to build on its strong run under Carrick in the second half of 2025–26.
Fitness and squad-depth concerns were already evident before the campaign began. A return to the Champions League added to the demands, yet director of football Jason Wilcox and United’s decision makers concentrated their summer recruitment on central midfield, bringing in Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
Only Tielemans has featured regularly so far in 2026–27. Baleba arrived carrying an injury and suffered a further hamstring problem in the win over Roma, while Santos, 22, has largely been used as a depth option.
United’s first choice went to City
According to The Athletic, United’s summer strategy failed to secure their preferred targets, leaving them to recruit players described as “seventh or eighth on United’s list”.
Anderson was reportedly the leading target, followed by Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Alex Scott, Ederson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Instead, Anderson moved from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City for more than £115 million ($150 million). The Times reports that he wanted to join United, but the club would not meet Forest’s valuation.
Bouaddi also joined City, while Fernandes and Tonali moved to Tottenham Hotspur.
Goretzka considered before Tielemans deal
The Athletic reports that United explored signing Goretzka on a free transfer before agreeing a £35 million deal for Tielemans. His wage demands were deemed too high, and he instead joined Aston Villa—then scored in this month’s 4–4 draw at Old Trafford.
The other midfield deals have also attracted questions. The Times reports that Brighton were “happy to take” £70 million for Baleba because his form had declined over the previous year and he was carrying an injury.
Senior figures at United have reportedly also accepted that the £50 million paid for Santos was an “overpayment”. He has played just 556 minutes this season.
Carrick departs with key gaps unfilled
“We can confirm Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach.”
Mauricio Pochettino has been confirmed as Carrick’s successor, reportedly on a two-and-a-half-year contract. But reports suggest there is sympathy within the club for the outgoing coach, who carried the consequences of United’s poor start.
The i Paper reports that senior figures were left “baffled” by the recruitment approach, particularly the failure to strengthen at left back or centre forward.
Despite summer links with Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, United signed no new full back. They instead relied on the fitness of Luke Shaw, now in his 30s and with a lengthy injury history.
Benjamin Šesko’s shin injury has also exposed the shortage of options at No. 9, forcing Bryan Mbeumo to play centrally out of position in recent matches. Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin has since been linked as a possible emergency signing in January.
