Michael Carrick Is Building Something Real at Man United. This XI Proves It.

Manchester United have been busy this summer. Three new signings are already through the door and there’s more work to be done before the transfer window closes. After clawing their way back into the Champions League spots, United have some real momentum. And Michael Carrick is quietly putting together a squad that looks capable of doing more than just hanging around in fourth place.

Here’s how they could line up on opening day against Hull. Which, by the way, is not a typo. Hull are back in the top flight.

Goalkeeper and Defense

Senne Lammens will walk back into Old Trafford to a standing ovation. He had a rough moment at the World Cup but the fans remember the season he just had. For the first time since David de Gea left, United have a goalkeeper who makes the simple saves and a few hard ones too. He brought a calm to the backline that was missing for years.

The right back situation is still fluid. Diogo Dalot might not be the long-term answer. According to reports from TEAMtalk, United and Newcastle are both sniffing around Neco Williams. He plays left back for Nottingham Forest but he’s right-footed and could switch sides pretty naturally. Forest are trying to lock him down with a new deal so if United want him, they need to move fast.

Lisandro Martinez is probably the best center back at the club when he’s healthy. That’s been the problem though. He missed eight games last season with various knocks. He’s 28 and heading into the final year of his contract. United have a decision to make: extend him or risk losing him for nothing.

Harry Maguire took a new one-year deal and it’s been a wild redemption arc. The memes are mostly gone and he’s playing like a legitimate Premier League defender again. At 33 he won’t play every game. Leny Yoro will get his share of minutes. But Maguire is still an excellent option to have in the squad. Don’t be surprised if the England snub lights a fire under him.

Luke Shaw had five separate injuries in 2024-25 but missed only five days of action last season due to illness. That’s a massive improvement. He’s 31 now and has been at the club for 12 years. Patrick Dorgu will push him for minutes if Carrick wants more attacking threat from the left. Either way, United are deep enough now to rotate.

Midfield

The first big move of the summer was dropping £48 million on Chelsea’s Santos. The Brazilian was the anchor in a midfield that carried Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez at Stamford Bridge. At United, he’ll sit deepest, break up play, and let the creative guys do their thing next to him. He’s only 22. That looks like a really smart buy.

Youri Tielemans is joining from Aston Villa and that’s a big loss for Unai Emery’s team. Tielemans controls tempo. He can hit a pass through the lines that splits defenses open. That’s exactly what United’s fast forwards need. He also chips in with goals. He’s been one of the most consistent midfielders in the league for years now.

Bruno Fernandes is 31 and still the guy. He set a Premier League record for assists last season and shows no signs of slowing down. He’s in the final year of his contract so this could be it. But if he produces anything close to last year’s numbers, United would be insane to let him walk.

Attack

Bryan Mbeumo scored 11 goals in his first season at United. Decent return. But he left a lot of chances on the table too. His xG was higher than his actual goal total and he went through stretches where he just couldn’t finish. Carrick will point out that at least he’s getting in the right spots. If United want to challenge higher up the table, Mbeumo needs to convert more of those looks.

Amad is left-footed and prefers the right wing but Mbeumo has that spot locked down for now. So Amad shifts to the left. It’s not ideal. But he’s talented enough to make it work. The problem is production. Five goal contributions in 32 matches last season isn’t enough for a team with top-four ambitions. Carrick will want more.

Up top, Matheus Cunha gets the nod ahead of Benjamin Sesko for now. Cunha was arguably United’s best signing last season. Ten goals and two assists. He’s not a traditional target man but he’s slippery and creates chaos in the box. He makes things happen even when the plan breaks down. That’s worth a lot.