RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Michael Carrick has acknowledged that Manchester United still need to strengthen their squad during the current transfer window, but insists they will not spend at the level of their Premier League rivals.
United have so far spent around £85 million to secure Andrey Santos , Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow . However, after another summer of heavy spending elsewhere, they remain the only Premier League ‘big six’ side never to have broken the £100 million threshold on a player.
Midfield additions were necessary following Casemiro’s departure as United seek to build adequate squad depth ahead of their return to the Champions League, and Carrick is pleased to have strengthened in this area.
"I think we’ve done really good business and we’ve got really some top, top, top players," Carrick said at United’s pre-season training camp in the Republic of Ireland.
"We’re delighted with that. We always want to improve. We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that. That never stops."
Man United have signed Youri Tielemans (PA Wire)
Meanwhile, rivals continue spending heavily with Chelsea buying Morgan Rogers for £117 million, Manchester City signing Elliott Anderson for £116 million, and Tottenham securing Sandro Tonali in a deal potentially reaching £100 million.
"Money’s money, I get that," Carrick said. "It’s still about the football, and that’s where the competition lies.
"Certainly the situation is what it is as well, whether that’s finances or whatever. For now, we’ve got to make the most of it, but we’ve got to keep pushing and push everything and every boundary that we can to be able to win again."
Asked why United were not matching rivals' spending, Carrick added: "To be honest, I haven’t got the answers for that. We’re working with pushing everything that we can to make the best of it."
Marcus Rashford is back with United this week after returning from the World Cup. Barcelona opted against exercising their option to buy the 28-year-old England winger following last season's loan, leaving questions over his long-term future despite Carrick talking up his reintegration.
When asked directly if the winger was for sale, Carrick said: "He’s our player, and he’s a good player and he gives us something a little bit different in the group.
Carrick feels Marcus Rashford has plenty to offer (PA Wire)
"Marcus can offer us so much. He has done, and he can do again, so in that respect it’s quite exciting."
This summer a number of Carrick’s players have expressed belief they can challenge for what would be a 21st league title, and first since 2013, next season. While that is positive news for the manager, he was far less forceful himself.
"We’ve definitely got the potential to achieve something really special," he said. "I’m not hiding from the fact, and we should aim to do that, but I can’t give you a definite answer on that. It’s certainly what we’re pushing to do because we have to, because that’s the club we are."
Carrick originally took the job on an interim basis in January following Ruben Amorim’s exit, before signing a two-year contract in May. The 45-year-old insisted he was not worried about whether a longer-term deal meant he might now be judged differently.
"I’m not fussed," he said. "Doesn’t bother me anyway. I’m just going about trying to win and trying to do the right thing for the football club."
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