Michael Carrick gives verdict on Manchester United transfer window as he claims squad player is ‘like a new signing’

MICHAEL CARRICK is adamant Manchester United have a stronger squad following the closure of the transfer window amid the club’s “financial situation”. United spent £155million on midfielders Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba but missed out on a left back after Newcastle refused to sell Lewis Hall. Baleba is currently injured Credit: Getty Santos joined in a £50m deal Credit: Getty All three promoted sides posted a higher net spend than United, who failed to negotiate a single genuinely first-team sale in the summer. Chelsea and Tottenham spent more than £300m on signings while Manchester City broke the £400m barrier. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! United have been up against it in recent years to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules but had the headroom to invest more heavily in their squad. Carrick said: “We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group that we had last season, and we’ve definitely added to that. “I think we’ve done a lot of good work in that respect. The situation is what it is, in terms of finances and what we can work with and what we’re trying to get the most of. “Certainly, the players that we’ve brought into the group, I’m delighted with, absolutely delighted with. “I think we’ve done some really good business there for the quality and the level of player that we’ve got. I’m really, really happy with that. “You can always look at it and there are other things you can do or possibly could have done. Some things become available, some don’t. That’s just part of evolving the group and trying to push all the time. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK “We obviously had certain things that we needed to fill and try and improve the group. Largely, I think we’re in a good place. “We’ve got pretty good balance within the whole squad. Dynamics, strengths, what we might need in certain games. “So, we’ve got players that are flexible as well throughout the whole team that can play in different positions as and when and if we need it. “As you go through a season, you always need that. So, largely pretty happy.” When pressed on the “financial situation” comment, Carrick replied: “I didn’t say restrictions. It’s the situation we have. “Whatever the amount is, we want to make the most of it. For what we’ve spent we’ve made the most of it, without a shadow of a doubt. “I only focus on ourselves and what we can do and maximising what we can do. Baleba joined in a £70m deal Credit: Getty Tielemans was a £35m signing Credit: Getty “What squad is ever perfect? You always have to find ways of adapting, when you’re building and going through a period when we’re trying to get to the top, you have to make steps. “It’s not going to be one hit. It’s the whole thing, improving as a group, as a squad. It’s not an instant fix. “There’s a whole road we have to go down with that and make sure we keep improving. There’s always things that we’re looking at and trying to improve.” First-choice left back Luke Shaw, 31, has entered the final year of his contract and although he started every Premier League game last season, he has been historically injury-prone. Dorgu, 21, joined United in February 2025 from Lecce, where he played at left back but his four starts under Carrick have come on the left wing. The Denmark international missed more than three months last season under Carrick due to a hamstring injury and was dropped after the opening weekend defeat at Hull. Carrick still believes Dorgu has brought a freshness to the United squad even though he has been at the club for nearly two years. Carrick said of Dorgu’s left back credentials. “He can certainly play there, He has done, without doubt. Dorgu was dropped after the Hull defeat Credit: Getty Shaw is into his 13th year at United Credit: Alamy “I’m not sitting here saying he can’t do that. It’s just the way we’ve been since I’ve been here. “He actually has been injured unfortunately for some time. He played three or four times for us last season. “So, for me, he’s almost like a new player, you know, to have, and it’s almost like a new signing in some ways because he’s added so much to the group. “He’s played off the right for Denmark, scored a great goal in the summer playing off the right in a forward position. “He can play left back. He’s that type where he can do a number of things. “I’m certainly not saying he can’t do that at all. It’s something he can, we just haven’t had to explore that. “At some point we might have to, at some point he might do that. He can do that, absolutely no problem. “There’s times in training when he does it. And then he’s only young. “Being such a young age and having the attributes that he’s got, we’ve just got to keep trying to get the most out of him.” Comment now