Carrick admits finances shaped United's summer window but backs £155m recruitment

Michael Carrick has conceded that Manchester United’s finances shaped the club’s summer transfer window, but said he has no reservations about the squad assembled ahead of the new season.

United spent £155 million on three midfielders — Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba — and added back-up goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer, producing a net spend of just over £100 million. That placed them in the middle of the pack among Premier League rivals, several of whom spent considerably more.

“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,” Carrick said. “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. The players that we’ve brought into the group I’m delighted with, absolutely delighted with.”

Carrick was careful to push back on the word “restrictions” when pressed on the financial picture at Old Trafford. “I didn’t say restrictions,” he said. “Whatever the amount is, you want to make the most of it. I think for what we’ve spent, we’ve certainly made the most of it, without a shadow of a doubt, if not even more than that because of the players that we’ve brought in.”

Under Ineos ownership, United have adopted a more disciplined approach to recruitment, prioritising value over volume — a shift Carrick appeared to endorse. “I only focus on ourselves and what we can do and maximising everything we can do, and I think we’ve done that,” he added.

The window was not without its frustrations. United were left without a recognised back-up left-back after failing to sign Lewis Hall earlier in the summer, and late attempts to recruit Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri and Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde also came to nothing.

Despite that gap in the squad, Carrick maintained the overall picture was positive. “Largely, I think we’re in a good place. We’ve got pretty good balance within the whole squad,” he said.