There’s no denying Michael Carrick has proven he’s more than capable of leading Manchester United to success, after enjoying a phenomenal run of form at the back end of last season.
The 45-year-old only suffered a defeat in two of his 17 games at the helm at Old Trafford, subsequently catapulting the Red Devils into a battle for the top three in the Premier League.
However, he’s craved added reinforcements to his senior ranks during the summer window to aid his chances of success – with £85m being spent on new additions to date.
Both have been signed to improve one area of the club’s squad, but how could Carrick’s men line up against Hull City on the opening day of the season?
How Man United’s midfield could line up in 2026/27
Kobbie Mainoo was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary of Carrick’s arrival at United, as the manager decided to bring the Englishman back into the fold after being snubbed by Ruben Amorim.
The 21-year-old featured in all but one game after the manager’s appointment, subsequently leading to a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.
However, he was one of two outfield players who failed to appear at the competition – which could see Mainoo have a point to prove next season and take his performances up a notch.
He will likely be joined by one of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans at the base of the Red Devils’ midfield, after the aforementioned duo completed their respective moves.
Both have key Premier League experience after featuring for Chelsea and Aston Villa last term, with the latter helping the Villans also clinch a place within the division’s top-five.
|
Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa record |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Games played |
133 |
|
Goals scored |
10 |
|
Assists |
25 |
|
Yellow cards |
13 |
|
Minutes played |
9797 |
|
Trophies won |
1x |
Whilst Carrick may have a selection dilemma ahead of him in the deeper role, there are no such concerns in the number ten position – as Bruno Fernandes once again lines up to take the division by storm.
The Portuguese international broke the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season last time around – with the fans hoping the 31-year-old can break his own record throughout 2026/27.
How Man Utd can make their midfield even better
As previously mentioned, Bruno’s levels at United have been nothing short of mind-boggling, with the attacking midfielder often the club’s go-to man within the final third.
He’s constantly got the club out of tricky moments in the Premier League and single-handedly saved the club from an embarrassing relegation battle in 2024/25.
However, there’s no doubt the 31-year-old is entering the back end of his career at the top-level, which has seen the hierarchy targeting a move for Gilberto Mora.
It’s been reported by TEAMtalk that United have made an aggressive push to land the 17-year-old star who recently featured for Mexico at the World Cup.
They also claim fellow English sides Arsenal and Liverpool are also closely monitoring the wonderkid, who’s said to be available for around the £20m mark this summer.
Mora may be an unknown talent to many United supporters, but he’s a player who’s destined for greatness in his career after already starring despite his tender age.
He will undoubtedly need time to settle into life in Manchester and adapt to the demands of the Premier League, but there’s no reason why he can’t be the perfect player to replace Bruno in the future.
His stats from the recent World Cup showcase his talent within attacking areas – even managing to better the Portuguese international in various key figures for a forward-minded talent. In the words of The Athletic’s data writer Thom Harris, he is a “phenomenon” and it’s not hard to see why.
The Mexican teenager managed to achieve a higher pass competition rate than the United captain, whilst also making more passes into the final third per 90.
His 91% pass accuracy and tally of 5.4 passes into the final third per 90 ranked him in the top 20% of all players at the competition – subsequently showcasing his talent with the ball at his feet.
Mora’s dominance over the Portuguese attacker was further reflected in his impressive tally of 2.1 chances created per 90 – a figure also higher than that of Bruno.
Like his numbers for passes, his chance creation also placed him in the top 8% of forwards at the tournament – which highlights how he can be the perfect player to fill the number ten role at United.
The teenager has thrived with the ball at his feet in recent times, subsequently completing more successful dribbles than the 31-year-old – often gliding past the opposition before laying on chances.
£20m for a player of his immediate quality and potential would be an excellent deal for United – subsequently handing Carrick a player who could be a vital asset to the Red Devils.
Whilst the club would need to manage his development in the years ahead, there’s no reason why Mora can’t emulate Bruno’s success at Old Trafford.