Adam Lawrence’s side finished joint top of the Premier League 2 table last season before narrowly losing in the play-off finals.

The talent on display was evident last season in what was arguably the best U21s team in the country, many of whom went on to take part in Michael Carrick’s pre-season.

These include Shea Lacey, who now looks to have taken a permanent step into the first team, and a number of others are expected to leave on loan, just as the U21s captain Jacob Devaney has done.

As a result, it is a chance for last year’s U18s to step up and make a mark at U21s level, and we look at three who are destined to do so.

Amir Ibragimov

Hampered by injuries last season, Ibragimov’s initial hype in the academy has fallen by the wayside in recent times as other stars shone while he was sidelined. But now back fit, the youngster’s talent is not one to ignore, as he is certain to be one of the U21s’ star players this campaign.

A senior Russian international, Ibragimov has some senior football experience under his belt, which he has taken to seamlessly.

Despite standing at just 1.73m tall, the 18-year-old’s physicality and doggedness give him a competitive advantage compared to his peers, as he has shown he does not need time adapting to the fight of first team football.

At just 16, Ibragimov put in two stellar performances against senior opposition in the National League Cup, scoring two goals in wins over Altrincham and Rochdale. The youngster’s dynamism makes him an exciting talent to watch and has garnered comparisons to Wayne Rooney.

Similar to Rooney, he has the versatility to play across the front line but has increasingly shown an adeptness at dropping into midfield with a willingness to put in a tackle.

With exceptional technique on the ball and a low centre of gravity, he offers drive through the central areas that can unpick even the tightest of backlines.

Yuel Helafu

Still eligible for U18s football, Helafu began the season with Darren Fletcher’s squad for their season opener against Manchester City, where he was arguably the best player on the pitch.

But having already made nine appearances with the U21s last season, it can be expected that Helafu will make a full-time step up and only drop down to the U18s for their big matches.

An unorthodox right-back, Helafu does not typically fly up and down the wing like a conventional full-back would be expected to. Instead, the 17-year-old follows a more recent trend of tucking inside to increase numbers in midfield and fill gaps as he exerts his control on the game.

This style of play has worked to great effect in the academy in the past year, as Helafu was one of the standout performers en route to two cup finals last season. Rewarded for those performances, Helafu received his first England youth call-ups in May for a pair of friendlies.

Helafu’s strengths align with the needs of the first team, which makes him such an exciting prospect for fans.

With Amad Diallo often hugging the touchline on the right, it allows the right-back to tuck inside and support the midfield, which has been United’s weakness for many seasons. It is a feature that has been attempted by Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui to inconsistent results but fits Helafu’s style much more seamlessly, making him a good option in the future.

Godwill Kukonki

With recent news that Kukonki will be staying at United following rumours of a potential departure in the summer, United fans can be excited to see more of Kukonki in the U21s.

A regular feature at both left-back and centre-back, it was the wide roles in which Kukonki impressed most last season.

Standing at 1.96m tall, the youngster displays nimble footwork on the ball alongside a powerful charge that at times makes him an unstoppable force galloping down the wing.

His physicality is often his most noticeable feature due to his size, but he is capable of impressing with his technique on the ball as well, particularly his range of passing.

What will be most important to see this season, though, is his concentration at the back. When playing at centre-back in the past, he has had troubles with his positioning and being alive to runners.

There are gaps to his game, but at 18 years old, he has all the tools to be a big talent if he can put them together under the tutelage of Adam Lawrence.

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INEOS have delivered on their biggest task of the summer: rebuilding Michael Carrick’s engine room.

The Red Devils’ midfield was far from where it ought to have been in terms of quality, and with Casemiro also leaving, the 20-time English champions were left with no option but to overhaul the department entirely.

As a result, roughly £150 million has been spent to hand Carrick a fine midfield. The additions of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, joining a group already containing Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount, represents a 10 out of 10 midfield rebuild.

Which pair joins Bruno Fernandes for Man United’s strongest midfield line-up?

Fernandes is a likely assured starter, but Carrick now has a welcome dilemma over which pairing to go with alongside the Portuguese magnifico.

Interestingly, the competition for places is already shaping up, with a necessary change at the centre of the park expected after the Hull defeat, in which Santos and Tielemans were the midfield pivot.

Despite the loss, Santos left an impression, winning the most tackles and the most duels on the pitch. He did not influence the game much, but he still put in a decent, quiet debut.

Tielemans struggled

Tielemans, on the other hand, really struggled. He is brilliant when given time and space to pick his passes, but once Hull pressed him and made the game physical, he struggled to control the middle. He also appeared to be struggling physically, with some even suggesting he needs to find his fitness.

His struggles off the ball also saw Santos try to cover too much ground, which left gaps in midfield for Hull to exploit whenever they won possession.

Given all that, it would be a mistake for Carrick to stick with the Belgian. Tielemans surely needs to make way for Mainoo.

Mainoo-Santos midfield pivot worth trying out versus Ipswich

Mainoo and Santos could complement each other well: while the summer signing wins the ball back and regains possession, the United number 37 could look to make things happen with the ball.

As technically gifted as Mainoo is, United have in him a player inclined to carry the ball, attract pressure and manipulate low blocks. Santos, meanwhile, would act as the warrior, thwarting opponents’ attacks and freeing Mainoo to provide control and help dominate.

Lucky charm

That said, United have only lost once under Carrick when Mainoo has started a game.

Interestingly, their two worst losses in his reign, against Leeds and now Hull City, have both come when he has not started.

Mainoo is Carrick’s lucky charm. If fit and available, he needs to start, leaving the last midfield spot up for grabs.

Santos, Tielemans and Baleba could all battle to partner him, or ideally, one of them could come in purely to deputise for him when needed.

In the end, United are a better team with Mainoo playing. The Man United head coach should know that; he just needs to find a way to platform him.

Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images

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Given his ability on the ball and his knack for overlapping and launching crosses into the box, Shaw should have been a natural fit for the role.

However, Amorim did not fancy deploying him there, preferring instead to use him as a left-sided centre-back rather than a left wing-back.

The Portuguese tactician must have noticed that Shaw was no longer as athletic as he used to be; his legs have gone. As a result, Amorim gave him a role that would not expose that decline.

After Amorim’s sacking, though, Manchester United reverted to their old system, using left-backs instead of wing-backs. Between the new manager bounce, a different tactical approach, and every player’s desire to prove themselves, the whole team looked better. Shaw, at left-back, was no exception.

Yet while United were relying on basics then, Carrick appears to have tweaked his tactics now, and it is hurting his team.

Luke Shaw exposed

Carrick is looking to revive the overlapping left-back role, with the left winger seemingly tucking inside.

That can work, but not with Shaw’s legs gone. Once he overlaps, his inability to recover quickly or track back opponents on the counter leaves United’s left-hand side massively exposed.

In AC Milan’s 4-2 pre-season friendly, it was obvious Amorim asked his players to target the veteran, with their third and fourth goals both coming from doing that.

Against Hull, the left-hand side clearly struggled again, and it was no surprise to hear head coach Sergej Jakirović point out the Shaw factor: “United is coming very high with [left-back] Luke Shaw. Also, they’re trying to overload midfield.”

Surely, then, if Carrick is to stick with this tactical plan, he cannot afford to keep relying on Shaw.

Shaw remains one of his most trusted players, having started every league game since he took over, but it is now clear he might be holding the team back.

Way forward

To play with an overlapping left-back, Carrick needs a genuine athlete, someone with fresher legs.

Patrick Dorgu could clearly be that man, with the stamina to bomb up and down the wing. Harry Amass could do the same, while Noussair Mazraoui has shown for Morocco that it is a role he can play perfectly.

Beyond that, if INEOS are ambitious, they could use the transfer window to sort this issue once and for all, pushing through a left-back signing to help Carrick fix this glaring weakness.

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The fixture is a repeat of the season opener two years ago, and the clash between the two clubs has proven to be a title decider in recent years, with the Manchester clubs both finishing in the top two of the Premier League North for the last three years in a row.

As is the nature with U18s football, squad turnover is large from season to season as players move up age groups and look to break into senior football.

This season in particular will look very different for Darren Fletcher’s side, as last year’s player of the year, JJ Gabriel, is unlikely to feature as he moves into the U21s and first team, and other key players like Jim Thwaites and Amir Ibragimov have aged out.

So we take a look at three names that Manchester United fans should keep an eye on this season.

Jay McEvoy

With Jim Thwaites moving up to the U21s, McEvoy now has the chance to make the deep-lying midfield role his own. Capable of playing as a six or an eight, McEvoy isn’t shy to get forward either, scoring four goals and providing three assists in eight matches to finish the league campaign last year.

The Irish international’s goal tally included a brace against Liverpool, and he has kept his fine form flowing into pre-season with a pair of goals against Fulham and one against Tottenham Hotspur.

Jay McEvoy pulled the strings with 2 goals against Fulham U18s in a preseason friendly pic.twitter.com/ri4ac8srJF

— RedYouthUnited (@RedYouthUnited) August 1, 2026

But despite his exploits in the final third, it is what he is capable of deeper in midfield that is perhaps the most impressive. An all-action midfield general, he is comfortable taking the ball on the turn in midfield and spraying passes between the lines.

Defensively, he doesn’t shy away from a tackle and brings a bit of old-school bite to the game that would make Roy Keane proud.

An Ireland U19s international, McEvoy has also represented Northern Ireland and attended an U15s England training camp in the past. With his talent, it is no surprise three different countries have been fighting for him.

Jaume Camacho

One of the 15 new first-year scholars stepping into Fletcher’s squad, Camacho already has two appearances for the U18s.

A versatile player, his high level of technical ability makes him a dependable player across a number of positions in midfield and even at full-back. Most recently, Camacho impressed at the Otten Innovation Cup in the Netherlands, where he scored two goals against SL Benfica and Adelaide United.

Operating in a more advanced number 10 role, he excelled by picking up spaces in between the lines, which consistently caused trouble for the opposition. Although not his more natural role, Camacho was arguably United’s best player at the tournament, which shows what he is capable of, and fans can expect even more when deployed in a more box-to-box role.

A dynamic midfielder, his high level of athleticism allows him to cover ground quickly while breaking into space and also to combat duels while out of possession.

His performances in the Netherlands will have earned him the trust of Fletcher to become a key figure in the upcoming season.

Ben Lyne

Another Irish talent coming through Carrington, Lyne joins McEvoy, Rafe McCormack, and Jacob Devaney on the conveyor belt of Irish talent to come through the United academy ranks in recent years.

Still only an U16, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see the 15-year-old become an U18s regular throughout the season.

As JJ Gabriel steps up to the U21s, the fight for the number nine shirt is wide open, with Lyne capable of snatching it from the grasps of Louie Bradbury and Camron Mpofu.

An explosive forward, Lyne’s speed makes him equally a threat from the left wing, where he likes to drift off the shoulder of the defender and break in behind the line. The youngster’s scoring exploits saw him score the match winner last season as United’s U15s raised the Premier League Floodlit Shield, and has continued into the summer where he impressed for the U16s at the SuperCupNI.

Scoring four goals in four starts, Lyne finished as United’s top goal scorer and capped off the tournament with a Panenka penalty to defeat Tigres and lift the SuperCupNI Globe.

Lyne was recently the subject of international speculation, being named in both Ireland and England U16s squads within a day of each other. The young forward chose Ireland, though, and captained them in a recent loss to Wales.

He subsequently missed out on Ireland’s second friendly against Wales, though, as he returned early to Carrington to be ready for the season opener.

The forward has previously attended an England U15s training camp but has since represented Ireland, where he has scored on his debuts at both U15s and U16s level.

For an overview of all of United’s new first-year scholars for the 2026/27 season, click here.

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With less than 24 hours until Manchester United kick off the new season away to newly promoted Hull City, the mood around the club is as positive as it has been at any point since the heyday of Sir Alex Ferguson, who departed in 2013.

Michael Carrick, an acolyte of the legendary Scot, is at the wheel, having been handed the reins at Old Trafford permanently after replacing Ruben Amorim on a temporary basis in January. The Red Devils have picked up the most points of any Premier League side since that switch in the dugout, while securing Champions League qualification convinced INEOS to appoint Carrick full-time.

The 41-year-old head coach’s approach – deft, diplomatic and deliberate – has been a welcome change from his prickly Portuguese predecessor, even if journalists all over the country pine for a return to the box-office press conferences which came to define Amorim’s tumultuous tenure. This positivity, on and off the pitch, has been imbued throughout the squad, with Luke Shaw describing them as the “happiest and probably most talented group” he has played with since signing from Southampton 13 years ago.

The pre-season tour was a testament to this, with United enjoying wins over Wrexham, Rosenborg, Atletico Madrid and Leeds United, while going toe to toe with European champions Paris Saint-Germain in a 1-1 draw. The only black mark came, ironically, in a 4-2 loss to an Amorim-led AC Milan side, despite Carrick’s men having gone 1-0 up after just two minutes.

Four senior signings – Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, Karl Darlow and Tynan Thompson – have been made, while Carlos Baleba looks set to be the fifth, with United locked in negotiations with Brighton & Hove Albion. Santos, who played the most minutes of any player across the summer, has undoubtedly been the biggest ‘winner’ of pre-season. The coaching staff are understood to be as impressed by his impact in the dressing room as in-game.

However, The Peoples Person considers any new recruit blessed enough to walk through the door at the Theatre of Dreams to be a ‘winner’. For the sake of analysis, only players in Carrick’s squad last season (mostly) will be considered when deciding the five winners and losers from Manchester United’s pre-season – and why Kobbie Mainoo is both.

Winners

Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo enjoyed a red-hot start to life at Old Trafford following his £71 million move from Brentford last summer, but tailed off midway through the campaign. He enjoyed a return to form under Carrick, however, when deployed as a false nine in a 4-2-3-1 system. This has been maintained throughout pre-season with Benjamin Sesko still recovering from a shin injury.

The Cameroon international has notched three goals over the summer, while providing a superb assist for Joshua Zirkzee against Leeds. He looks fitter, faster and freer in this central role, which also allows Amad to start on the right wing. With Sesko yet to play a minute in pre-season, Mbeumo will start up top against Hull City – meaning he is an absolute must-have for Fantasy Footballers as well.

Ayden Heaven

Second only to Santos for most minutes played during pre-season, Heaven has taken full advantage of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt’s absence. Despite his tender age of 19, the former Arsenal starlet is an imposing figure in the backline. Last season, he ranked third out of all Premier League players for successful ground duels.

This ability to dominate physically is backed up by his technique, however, with Heaven capable of playing the ball forward with purpose and precision. He is not quite at the level of Martinez in possession (who is?), but the fact that the Argentine may struggle to reclaim his starting berth from the youngster is a testament to how impressive Heaven has been this summer.

Mason Mount

If not for yet another injury, Mount would be locked in to start the season as Carrick’s first-choice midfielder alongside Santos. However, the 27-year-old has not trained since being forced off the pitch against PSG, despite his transformation in a deeper role this summer.

Trialled next to Santos as a deep-lying playmaker by Carrick, Mount was one of, if not the, best United players in the wins over Wrexham, Rosenborg, and, most importantly, Atletico Madrid. To have played as well as he did against a Champions League semi-finalist was impressive, even if it was a friendly. Provided Mount can return from his latest period on the sidelines, he is primed to be an unexpectedly crucial component of Carrick’s plans.

Bruno Fernandes

Perhaps an odd choice considering Fernandes joined pre-season late on, missing two penalties in successive matches, but the club captain is a winner from the summer – because of who else arrived, and what that means for him.

To no one’s surprise, United will continue to line up in Carrick’s favoured 4-2-3-1 shape, the same system which helped Fernandes break the Premier League’s all-time assist record. But he will also benefit from the signings of Santos and, in particular, Tielemans, who are both excellent at passing between the lines.

No longer will United’s No.8 be forced to drop deep in search of the ball, safe in the knowledge that two outstanding technicians – three including Mainoo – are stationed behind him. The connection with Tielemans was on full display against PSG, widely considered the best team in the world.

Kobbie Mainoo

Having been reinvented as an integral player under Carrick after Amorim’s bizarre decision to freeze him out, Mainoo faced the same treatment by Thomas Tuchel with England at the World Cup. The 21-year-old midfielder was the only member of the Three Lions squad not to play a minute at the tournament in North America.

Yet, this experience – as was the case with Amorim – could ultimately benefit him, given adversity sharpens the mind while his lack of playtime will have rested his body. The potential signing of Baleba, which is believed to be a matter of when rather than if, also provides him the perfect partner profile-wise in midfield. England’s loss will be United’s win this season.

Losers

Lisandro Martinez

If Heaven is one of the biggest winners, the player he has, for now at least, replaced has to be one of the biggest losers. Martinez remains something of an enigma; an elite ball-playing centre-back who is routinely exposed because he lacks the pace and power to make up for his diminutive stature.

United are a worse team in possession without El Carnicero, but there is a strong argument they are better out of it. With transitions and set-pieces increasingly dictating success in the Premier League, Martinez’s strengths may not justify his weaknesses.

A contract which expires next summer, though the club can trigger an automatic one-year extension, calls his future into question, while the inability to stay fit will raise alarm bells over a potential new long-term deal. The pre-season tour has already highlighted his successor in the squad.

Patrick Dorgu

Transformed by Carrick into a rampaging winger with three goals in three starts on the left wing last season, Dorgu should have been one of the standout performers of pre-season. Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford’s extended time off due to World Cup duty gave him sole control of the position – yet he did little to convince.

The 21-year-old Dane did not play poorly per se, but a lack of meaningful moments in the final third has not shifted the sense he may be better deployed as an attacking full-back. However, INEOS are intent on signing a new left-back before the transfer window slams shut on 1 September, while Cunha and Rashford have now returned to the fold. Dorgu may soon be left as a player in between positions, even if his versatility is valuable; a Danish Army Knife, so to speak, just one surrounded by sharper blades elsewhere.

Tyler Fletcher

Heading into the summer window, United were understood to have hoped an academy player could emerge as an option to provide a cheap solution in midfield. Fletcher, son of Darren and twin brother of Jack, was deemed the most likely candidate, having been selected by Steve Clarke for Scotland’s World Cup squad.

However, the 19-year-old did not do enough to justify this hope, nor did his brother. The fact that the queue ahead of him now contains Tielemans and Santos alongside Mainoo, with Baleba likely to be added to the mix, means Fletcher is unlikely to play a single minute next season, let alone be a prominent member of Carrick’s squad.

Marcus Rashford

While technically not a player in the first team last season, Rashford’s unlikely return to his boyhood club means he qualifies for selection here. And though it is harsh to place him in the category of losers from United’s pre-season, the fact he failed to seal a permanent move to FC Barcelona earns him a spot on the list.

Publicly, the player, his head coach, and the executive structure are all singing from the same hymn sheet; the transgressions which led to Rashford’s forced departure appear to have left with Amorim. Carrick has praised the 28-year-old on multiple occasions, while United were in the market for a more reliable source of goals in attack. Twenty-eight goal contributions in Spain is double what the most productive United forward – Mbeumo, with 11 goals and three assists – produced last year.

Marcus Rashford Stats: 2025/26 Season

If Rashford can replicate his form for Barcelona and England over the past 12 months, he may quickly rise into a ‘winner’ from pre-season. But until that point, he is, rather unfairly, a loser from the twists and tales of the summer transfer window.

Kobbie Mainoo

Why is a winner also a loser, you ask? Well, the prospective arrival of Baleba alongside Santos and Tielemans gives Carrick an excellent four-man unit in midfield, with a selection of complementary attributes. However, it will naturally limit Mainoo’s playtime, even with the increased workload of Champions League football and the hope of deeper runs in the domestic cups.

Baleba will battle Santos for the No.6 role, putting Mainoo in competition with Tielemans – one of the Premier League’s best playmakers last season – for the No.8 position. The 29-year-old Belgium captain is at the peak of his powers, offering a template for the midfielder Mainoo should aspire to become. But if you are in the same squad as the player you want to succeed, it is hard to carve out your own space in the meantime. England’s loss will be United’s win this season, but Tielemans’ presence will limit Mainoo’s chances to show that.

Final Thoughts

So there we have it. Five winners and five losers. Or, more accurately, four winners and four losers, and one hybrid. But that second list was much harder to write than the first, with even more potential ‘winners’ in mind, such as Leny Yoro or Shea Lacey, who did not make the cut. And this suggests Carrick is, in fact, the biggest winner from Manchester United’s pre-season tour and summer wheeling and dealings. If a left-back like Lewis Hall is somehow signed before deadline day, the head coach’s status as the winner of winners will be beyond dispute.

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Manchester United have spent the summer strengthening their midfield.

This objective appears to have been achieved with the signings of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and with a deal for Carlos Baleba nearing completion.

United are not only keen to strengthen their midfield but have also shown a desire to add a left-back to their squad.

Left back situation

Luke Shaw had a great season last year, but it is widely accepted that he is unlikely to be able to replicate this form across a full season of Champions League football and, hopefully, more cup games.

Patrick Dorgu is also viewed by Michael Carrick as more of an attacking option, and Harry Amass is expected to leave.

The Red Devils have been linked with a plethora of names, such as Lewis Hall, Miles Lewis-Skelly, Jorge Salinas, and David Raum, to name a few.

Nonetheless, Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday that Alejandro Balde of FC Barcelona is becoming a serious option for United before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

What does Balde bring to the table?

Balde, at 22 years old, is exactly the type of age profile that INEOS like to invest in. He has experience but still has a lot of potential to grow and could provide a significant sell-on profit in the future.

He has represented the Spanish national team on seven occasions and has played for Barcelona 168 times over five seasons, in spite of his young age. This includes 18 Champions League matches over the last two seasons.

Talent

Whilst Balde may not be as defensively strong as Lewis Hall or Luke Shaw, he brings much to the table offensively.

That is not to say the Spanish international is weak defensively, as he is at his best when pressing the opposition with his boundless energy.

His physique and agility are powerful weapons to help stop counter-attacks and would suit the Premier League nicely.

Nonetheless, as previously mentioned, it is in attack where he could truly shine.

United already have full-backs such as Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui who are better defenders than attackers.

Alejandro Balde, on the other hand, is “an elite, highly explosive modern left-back for FC Barcelona whose attacking talent is defined by elite vertical pace, exceptional ball progression, and dynamic flank play.”

He has also had a lot of success as an overlapping full-back, something United currently do not have with Luke Shaw owing to his age and inability to get up and down the pitch as he used to.

His speed and ability to carry the ball also make him a “potent weapon” in transitions, something which is vital to being successful in the Premier League, particularly in the biggest matches.

Final thoughts

Balde is not the perfect full-back, but he is someone who can add a lot to this United team. What’s more, at just 22 years of age, he has plenty of time to progress and improve in this increasingly exciting young team being built at Old Trafford.

Alejandro Balde 25/26 season stats

Source: transfermarkt.com

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Manchester United fans are anticipating their third midfield signing of the summer.

Carlos Baleba

It was reported earlier this morning by David Ornstein that the Red Devils were nearing a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.

Assuming the deal goes through as expected, the Cameroonian would become the club’s third midfield signing after Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.

Here is how the club could line up with Baleba in the starting line-up.

Starting XI

Despite signing Karl Darlow this summer, Senne Lammens will undoubtedly be the club’s first-choice keeper after a stunning first season at the club.

Diogo Dalot has often been favoured by Michael Carrick, but Noussair Mazraoui offers greater consistency and has impressed during his two-year spell at Old Trafford.

Ayden Heaven may be young, but he has often shown quality and decision-making abilities beyond his years, and his physicality and speed will be essential for United’s defence.

Leny Yoro hardly had his best season last year, but he has bundles of potential, and the only way he will improve is if he is given significant game time, especially alongside his potential long-term partner in defence.

Luke Shaw was sensational last season but has shown concerning tendencies during pre-season, especially against AC Milan last weekend. Nonetheless, unless the club signs someone between now and the end of the window, he is still the club’s best option at left-back.

Carlos Baleba will take his place in a defensive midfield position, allowing his excellent physicality, speed, defensive work, and ball-carrying to shine through.

Fellow new signing Youri Tielemans will complement Baleba well, as whilst he is not as strong physically, his excellent passing and movement will allow United to play a very balanced midfield.

Bruno Fernandes will unquestionably play as the more advanced midfielder, and Baleba’s off-the-ball work should allow the Portugal international to prosper and focus on what he excels at: creating.

Matheus Cunha was wonderful in the second half of last season and will once again be imperative to United’s success this season. Bryan Mbeumo will play off the right as he brings much-needed clinical finishing, and Benjamin Sesko will be the club’s go-to number nine once he overcomes his injury problems that have plagued his pre-season.

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Manchester United are searching for a midfielder and a left-back as the transfer window draws to a close.

Duel need

The Red Devils have already signed two midfielders, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, but are looking for a third option. With Luke Shaw ageing and being tasked with playing in four different competitions next season, United are also in need of support in the left-back position.

Reliable media outlets have suggested United would love to sign a player who could play in both positions, and there is a clear and obvious answer to this problem. Myles Lewis-Skelly seems to be the perfect option on many levels, and here is why.

Age profile

Lewis-Skelly is exactly the type of age profile that INEOS are keen to target. He is just 19 years old, and the Red Devils have shown that they are prepared to spend big on young talent.

Leny Yoro, Patrick Dorgu and Tynan Thompson have all been signed by INEOS in recent years, and it stands to reason the club would be happy to spend the money on Lewis-Skelly if need be. The teenager would prove significant value for money owing to his best years being ahead of him and the potential for resale value, which matters immensely to the current ownership.

Experience

The amazing thing about Lewis-Skelly is that, in spite of his young age, he has already gained a lot of big-game experience. The Londoner has already played 76 matches for Arsenal, but it is also the quality of the matches he has played.

He played 20 Premier League matches last season and 10 games in the Champions League as Arsenal made it to the final. As evidence of his talent, Lewis-Skelly actually started the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain back in May.

Qualities

At the end of the day, the most important reason to sign the player is his quality and his ability to play in two positions.

The England international has been described as “a player with great mobility. He acts as a real playmaker from different positions on the pitch.”

This would be vitally important for United, as they sometimes find it tough to create when Bruno Fernandes is off his game. This creativity can be seen when he played a sublime pass for Riccardo Calafiori to score in the opening seconds of the Community Shield final at the weekend.

In addition, “he has a high passing technique, a great ball control and is a great asset when it comes to bringing the ball out from the back, either through progressive passing or through his powerful and precise carrying with the ball.” Lewis-Skelly is also a physical player who can use his athleticism to bully midfielders and attackers alike.

In comparison to Luke Shaw when playing full-back, the youngster won 84.3% of his defensive duels in comparison to Shaw’s 51.1%. In addition, he was able to make significantly more progressive carries of the ball.

Final thoughts

With Lewis-Skelly reportedly available at Arsenal this summer, the versatile youngster would not only be an exciting addition to a young team but would also complement perfectly the transfer vision INEOS have tried to instil at the club.

Myles Lewis-Skelly Stats: 2025/26 Season

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He explained that the Red Devils’ midfield transfer activity may depend on market opportunities. In other words, if no strong option emerges, the club will stick with the current squad.

These revelations must leave United fans worried that, just as last season, the club’s decision-makers will once again overlook an obvious transfer need yet still expect a top campaign.

Postponed midfielder transfer plans

Heading into last season, everyone knew former United head coach Ruben Amorim wanted a ground-eating midfielder.

After missing out on top target Carlos Baleba, however, United’s chiefs chose not to pursue an alternative. Most expected them to revisit the transfer this summer.

Analysing the squad since then, though, it became clear that the club needed more than one midfield reinforcement. With Casemiro departing and Manuel Ugarte clearly no longer viewed as the Brazilian‘s long-term replacement, United needed to sign their successors in a double deal, while also finally landing the midfielder they missed out on last summer.

In Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, the club has arguably already replaced Casemiro and Ugarte. The 20-time English champions now need to sign that one remaining midfielder, the very player they failed to sign last summer, to complete their midfield rebuild.

The Mason Mount option

Some have suggested Mason Mount could fill that gap. Shifting him from an attacking role into central midfield would introduce a fresh option in the engine room.

Mount deputised for Casemiro last season against Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, then carried that form into pre-season, where he dazzled alongside Santos. This certainly suggests a future for the former Chelsea man in midfield.

Yet the biggest question over the Englishman has never been ability; it has always been availability. Injuries have repeatedly disrupted his United career, leaving him fit only in short bursts.

He enjoyed a strong pre-season and looked set for a transformative 2026-27 campaign. Then, just 20 minutes into the friendly against Paris Saint-Germain, Mount came off. Reports initially framed the substitution as pure precaution, suggesting the technical bench simply refused to risk him continuing.

More than a week later, however, and three days into the new season, Mount has still not returned to training.

Reports now suggest he has picked up a knock, and it would not be surprising if the absence stretches into weeks or even months.

Ultimately, this latest setback should serve as a clear reminder: United cannot rely on Mount as their third midfield option.

All eyes on Ineos

That third midfielder needs to be signed, and Mount’s injury provides the perfect justification to push hard for a signing while the transfer window remains open.

If the club’s leadership truly shares the ambition and believes this squad must chase glory, they need to prove it with action. Their shifting transfer plans, first recognising the need for three midfield additions, then behaving as though two will somehow suffice, already leave many questioning their true ambitions for this team.

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Heaven saw limited action under Michael Carrick last season, managing only three starts in 18 games. Some found that surprising, particularly given how brilliantly the young defender had performed, impressing enough to earn the club’s player of the month award for December 2025.

Nonetheless, the decision to leave him on the bench proved well vindicated, as Martinez stepped up and delivered.

Martinez is a brilliant ball-playing defender. What he does with the ball makes him an asset, and in certain matches his ability to carry it forward and deliver defence-splitting passes turns him into a genuine weapon.

Even so, for all his quality on the ball, the World Cup finalist has some glaring weaknesses that Milan exploited ruthlessly. While Licha excels in possession, he remains a real concern off the ball.

Martinez’s off-the-ball struggles

His limited mobility and difficulties defending out wide stand out as clear issues. Ruben Loftus-Cheek exposed them when he caught Martinez out for Milan’s fourth goal in that 4-2 defeat in Poland.

Licha’s vulnerability when forced to turn or cover space during open transitions is a problem, and given the intensity of the Premier League, opponents will look to exploit it, just as Amorim must have instructed his players to do.

Moreover, selecting Martinez while relying on Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield leaves United short of raw physical dominance. When two of those three form the midfield pivot, the central defenders must compensate with athleticism and aerial dominance.

Heaven the better option

Martinez struggles specifically in these two areas: athleticism and aerial dominance. Heaven, by contrast, does not.

The United number 26 is notably dominant in the air, frequently recording a 100 per cent success rate in aerial duels, as he did against Milan. He is also quick; his impressive pace ranks among his standout attributes and allows him to thrive in high-line defensive systems, regularly recovering against fast attackers.

Those qualities, combined with his press resistance and deep-lying playmaking ability, where he often acts as a progressive passer who breaks opposition lines from deep, mean that on a good day Heaven is the superior option to Martinez.

The winter 2025 signing offers everything Martinez does, apart from experience, and that should not matter greatly when he lines up alongside more seasoned team-mates.

Martinez remains a fine defender, yet he cannot be United’s starting centre-back in the current circumstances. For now, Heaven, who looks fired up for the new season after a brilliant pre-season, needs to be trusted with a key role, with the South American deputising for him.

This change could help the midfield click and stop United’s central defence from being exposed.

That said, if United sign a ground-covering midfielder who is also aerially dominant before deadline day, Carrick would have some reason to start Martinez ahead of Heaven.

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