Manchester United poised to break midfield spending record under Carrick
The club is set to complete a £35m acquisition that will see total central midfield investment since 2006 approach £580m, raising questions over recruitment strategy amid squad uncertainty.
Manchester United are prioritising central midfield reinforcements this summer as new permanent head coach Michael Carrick seeks to reshape his squad. The club is anticipated to finalise the £35m signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson, a move that would mark Carrick’s first acquisition since his confirmation as head coach. The recruitment drive follows the impending departure of Brazil international Casemiro, whose contract expires on 30 June, and growing uncertainty surrounding the future of Manuel Ugarte.
The anticipated arrival of Ederson would see the club’s spending on central midfielders since Carrick joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006 reach nearly £580m. This figure highlights the significant financial commitment the organisation has made to the position over two decades, with further expenditure expected as Carrick looks to stabilise the middle of the park. Kobbie Mainoo remains the only other experienced central midfielder in the current squad, underscoring the urgency of the club’s transfer activity.
Ugarte, a £42.5m signing from Paris St-Germain in August 2024, has fallen out of favour, having been an unused substitute in the final-day win at Brighton and failing to play since April. With major doubts over whether the Uruguay international will remain at the club next season, United are actively monitoring several alternatives. England’s Elliot Anderson is regarded as the first-choice target, although the club is reluctant to meet his salary demands or engage in a bidding war, particularly regarding a potential £120m fee.
United are also considering other options to avoid protracted transfer sagas, citing the Liverpool-Newcastle Alexander Isak deal as a cautionary example. Targets include West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni. The futures of Tchouameni and Federico Valverde are currently unclear following a reported training ground spat and the impending return of Jose Mourinho to the Bernabeu.
While academy graduates Jack and Tyler Fletcher and Jacob Devaney are expected to feature in pre-season, they are not anticipated to secure regular starting spots in the Premier League or Champions League next term. The club’s pre-season campaign begins against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July, but the midfield composition for the 2026-27 campaign remains to be determined as Carrick attempts to rectify the mixed results of previous recruitment efforts.
