With the transfer window coming to a close shortly, fans are left questioning what United’s best XI looks like heading into Carrick’s first full season.
These roster questions stem from INEOS’ hesitance to spend big for Carrick, only giving him £80 million worth of signings to work with so far. To put that into perspective, INEOS spent over £200 million in the summer of 2022 when Erik ten Hag took charge and over £200 million during the 2025 summer transfer window to back Ruben Amorim ahead of his
first full season in charge.
Although at least one more signing is likely to happen before the transfer window closes Sept. 1, marquee signings like Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid and Lewis Hall from Newcastle remain unlikely because of their hefty price tags and wage demands. Tchouameni just signed a new contract with Madrid, and Hall would likely have to submit a transfer request to leave Newcastle.
Manu Kone from Roma or Eduardo Camavinga from Real Madrid would more adequately fit United’s price range. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed United’s concrete conversations with Kone’s agents. It’s possible that INEOS are holding off on Kone to monitor the Camavinga situation. Additionally, both are experienced defensive midfielders who still have something to prove and would likely battle with Andrey Santos for the starting No. 6 role.
But with the possibility of no new left back and backup striker, what does Carrick’s best XI look like?
Here’s my prediction:
Striker: Benjamin Sesko
Once he’s back at 100% health, Benjamin Sesko deserves to start big games. After tallying 11 goals in 30 games (13 as a substitute), he proved himself to the fans and to Carrick. Looks like he put on a lot of muscle in the offseason too. But with UCL, FA and EFL Cup football as well, he obviously won’t be able to start every game. Reports indicate Joshua Zirkzee is closing in on a loan to Juventus, and never really fit as a No. 9 for United. Bryan Mbeumo seems to be the likely second option, having rotated up front last season under Carrick and scoring goals while doing so. Moving Mbeumo up front also makes room for Amad on the right wing, who could be in for a bounce-back season after a phenomenal performance in the World Cup for Ivory Coast.
“I cannot really choose,” Mbeumo said when asked about his preferred position. “Obviously, I’ve done some great things on the right wing, but also some good things upfront. I’m more experienced on the wing, so maybe this, but I enjoy playing striker.”
Right Wing: Bryan Mbeumo
If Sesko starts up top, the right winger will probably come down to fitness levels and whoever is in form. Carrick will likely start the season with Mbeumo on the right with Amad as a substitute, and eventually give Amad the start if Mbeumo starts up top.
Left Wing: Matheus Cunha
With Marcus Rashford returning to Carrington, Carrick has options on the left side. Each of them offer a different playstyle. Rashford, a true left winger. Cunha, a LAM. Dorgu, a LM. Chances are Cunha starts most games with Dorgu and Rashford acting as super-subs. Dorgu and Rashford may also see a few starts in domestic cup games.
No. 10: Bruno Fernandes
This one isn’t really up for debate. Bruno Fernandes has this role locked down after breaking the single-season assist record. But Shea Lacey, who could also be an option for third-string right wing, seems to be the best option to back up Bruno at the No. 10 role. Lacey played a few games at right wing last season under Carrick, but has been spectacular in preseason playing CAM. Even new signing Youri Tielemans is able to play CAM. If Bruno gets injured, and Kobbie Mainoo starts at the No. 8 role, Tielemans would be a great option to step right into the No. 10 role.
Pivot 8: Kobbie Mainoo
Having Tielemans and Mainoo compete for starts at the No. 8 role will help both of them develop, especially Mainoo. Personally, I would say Mainoo deserves to start 60% of games and Tielemans 40%. Maybe even 50/50. They’re both technically sound and know how to dictate the game, but they both lack pace and defensive contributions, especially Tielemans. Curious to see how Carrick will pick between the two. The third-string option on this side of midfield seems to be leaning towards Mason Mount. Mount is typically looked at as a CAM, but has been putting in work at the CM position ever since the end of last season and has done well there in preseason.
Pivot 6: Andrey Santos (for now)
The options here are incredibly scarce. New signing Andrey Santos will not be able to start every game. Besides him, the best options would be Manuel Ugarte and academy players. That wouldn’t sit well with the fanbase. If United do sign either Kone or Camavinga, it will be a similar situation to Tielemans and Mainoo, with Santos and Kone/Camavinga battling for starts which will further their development. Even with one of those new midfielders, Santos will likely start the season at the CDM role since he’s been training with the squad for some time now and has done very well in preseason. If worst comes to worst and United don’t sign another midfielder, Carrick will either have to stick with Ugarte/academy players or force Mainoo and Tielemans to play in a midfield together. It could work, but it’s risky with the lack of pace and tackling. United in possession would look great, and would probably score more goals too, but would be in trouble off the ball and getting back on defense.
Left Back: Luke Shaw
Just four days after scoring a goal in a preseason match against Rosenborg, Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic reported that Harry Amass could leave Manchester United this summer for around £6 million. Now that wouldn’t make much sense with the roster depth United currently has at left back. Luke Shaw is the only primary left back on the roster besides Amass. Additionally, why would United let go of a young talent like Amass, who won back-to-back Player of the Month in November and December of 2025 in the Championship while on loan? Seems like this would be a mistake similar to the one United made with Alvaro Carreras, who now starts for Real Madrid. If United don’t let him go, Shaw will start and Amass will back him up. If United end up buying Lewis Hall for around £80 million, he’ll step into the starting role right away.
Left Centre Back: Lisandro Martinez
Lisandro Martinez will start if he’s fit. He is, however, recovering from an injury suffered in the World Cup final. Ayden Heaven would step into the starting role for the first few games of the season while Lisandro recovers.
Right Centre Back: Harry Maguire (for now)
Maguire will most likely start the first games of the season after starting 20 games last year and having one of his best years as a Red Devil. But if De Ligt is eased back into the squad and fully recovers from a back injury that kept him sidelined since the beginning of last season, he’ll likely take the starting role back from Maguire if he returns to the form he was in pre-injury.
At full fitness, De Ligt is United’s most complete center back. Now both he and Martinez have battled injuries previously, and luckily Carrick can look to Leny Yoro to step up into the RCB role if that continues, or even if Maguire and De Ligt simply need to rest and recover. Yoro started 18 games last season and 14 as a substitute, doing well in some games and not so well in others. With how young he is, he’ll likely develop into a much more polished defender with age, experience and mentorship from De Ligt and Maguire.
Right Back: Noussair Mazraoui
Carrick gave Diogo Dalot the primary defending role on the right flank last season, allowing him to push up the field with his pace and offer a passing option for attackers. Dalot thrives at that. As for defending, Noussair Mazraoui has got Dalot beat in that category. And after Mazraoui showcased that defensive resilience for Morocco in the World Cup, Carrick might want to think about giving Noussair the primary role on the right instead of Dalot. If one of them faces an injury crisis, and the other is recovering from starting a recent game, Carrick could deploy Leny Yoro at the right-back position like he did this preseason. Yoro did his job on the right side.
“I’m firstly still a centre back, I’m just here because Diogo and Mazraoui aren’t here yet, so yeah I can play both positions,” Yoro said after the Atletico game. “I enjoy playing on the pitch wherever. While I’m a centre back, I still enjoy playing right back.”
Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens
Senne Lammens won Premier League Transfer of the Season for his impact between the pipes last season. Now fully settled into the Premier League, he could be in for another big year. New signing Karl Darlow from Leeds sits behind him as the backup keeper, and will likely see minutes in FA and EFL Cup games. Tom Heaton will provide mentorship from the bench as well. Reports indicate Altay Bayindir is on the verge of leaving on loan to Celta Vigo.
Starting XI:
Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo, Bruno, Mainoo, Santos, Shaw, Lisandro (if not fit, Heaven), De Ligt (if not fit, Maguire), Mazraoui, Lammens.
XI option 2:
Mbeumo, Rashford/Dorgu, Amad/Lacey, Bruno, Tielemans, Kobbie (Kone/Camavinga if signed), Amass (if not sold), Heaven, Maguire/Yoro, Dalot/Yoro, Darlow.
