Carrick satisfied with Man Utd spending despite rivals

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has expressed satisfaction with the club's summer transfer business, stating he is "largely pretty happy" with the squad's composition despite the team being outspent by several Premier League rivals. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, September 4, 2026, Carrick emphasized that the club has strengthened its group for the upcoming season, which includes a return to the Champions League. The club's primary focus was rebuilding its midfield following the departure of Casemiro and a serious injury to Manuel Ugarte. United secured the signings of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba for a combined fee reported to be around £155 million. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow also arrived on a free transfer. However, the team did not acquire a new left-back or a senior striker, areas where reinforcements were anticipated. Luke Shaw remains the only senior option at left-back, a position noted for its injury concerns. Carrick addressed the financial context, noting that United's spending was significantly lower than that of rivals like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham.