You have to go back to Carrick\u2019s own \u00a318m transfer from Tottenham in 2006 for the last elite-level midfielder bought by United who arrived with his peak years ahead of him and went on to be a consistent force for many years, a strange dereliction of duty for a lineage that boasts Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Paul Ince, Bryan Robson and Nobby Stiles, alongside other A-list acts.<\/p>\n
Since Carrick, Paul Pogba \u2013 purchased by Mourinho a decade later for a club-record \u00a393.2m \u2013 possessed the highest ceiling, but the Frenchman was unable to return even seven- or eight-out-of-10 displays in most games. Casemiro, who departed Old Trafford in May, came from Real Madrid in 2022 as a five-time Champions League-winner but, at 30, his best years were firmly behind him, and only the first and last of his four seasons at United could be rated as high level.<\/p>\n
Manchester United have been linked with a \u00a370m swoop for the Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. Photograph: Jeff Mood\/ProSports\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
Cite any other signing who has patrolled United\u2019s midfield since Carrick and you are naming mediocrity in a United shirt, at best: Fred, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera, Sofyan Amrabat, Daley Blind and Manuel Ugarte among those on that list. The exception is a home-reared player \u2013 Kobbie Mainoo. And even he, who as a teenager scored the winner in United\u2019s 2024 FA Cup final triumph<\/a> against Manchester City and started England\u2019s 2-1 Euros final loss to Spain that summer, was discarded by Ruben Amorim, before Carrick\u2019s mid-January appointment, after the Portuguese\u2019s sacking, saved his United career.<\/p>\n So we arrive at the start of a new campaign and Carrick\u2019s move to end this poor engine-room policy reaches Baleba. If the 22-year-old is acquired, he will join Santos, another No 6, and Tielemans, a No 8 who will compete with Mainoo, in a central cadre that has legs, skill, aggression and knowhow. Mason Mount has also shown to be another viable midfield option during pre-season. The 27-year-old operated with accomplishment as an attacking midfielder before sustaining his latest injury in a friendly draw with Paris Saint-Germain this month.<\/p>\n It is the latest setback for Mount, but Carrick has brushed aside any concerns regarding his robustness. \u201cFirst of all Mason is a top player \u2013 we have seen that he was one of our best players in the first games,\u201d the manager said. \u201cHe was outstanding and has picked up a bit of a knock. But there are no dramas. He has missed some football over recent years and he wants to be fit and be in full rhythm and we want to help him. Mason will be back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n United travel to Hull on Saturday before hosting Ipswich a week on Sunday. Games against two promoted teams represent a favourable launch to Carrick\u2019s first full campaign in charge, albeit he branded as \u201cridiculous\u201d the view<\/a> that it was an easy start. Yet factor in how a trip to Everton is United\u2019s third game before Manchester City arrive at Old Trafford on 13 September and this is undoubtedly a golden chance for United to plant a flag as potential title contenders.<\/p>\n Reviving United amid the chaos of Amorim\u2019s departure and finishing third last year was a fine effort by Carrick. Yet when he took over, the team were already out of both domestic cups and not in Europe. That left 17 games for the then caretaker to navigate. Now Carrick has a full programme of Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup fixtures before him: a litmus test of his side, as well as of the 45-year-old.<\/p>\n
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