Man Utd made midfield recruitment summer priority - what happens now?
Michael Carrick says Manchester United have balance in their midfield following a £150m summer recruitment campaign - so who plays?
Manchester United made midfield recruitment a priority this summer, and the impact of their new signings is already being felt. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, who are better suited to more advanced roles, were the only senior central midfielders United had before the transfer window opened. This left Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos as their only options.
Youri Tielemans, a £35m signing from Aston Villa, is developing an understanding with skipper Bruno Fernandes, while Andrey Santos has impressed with his work rate and ability to help other players. However, with United having five games in 16 days following their Champions League qualification, rotation in the midfield will be inevitable.
Fernandes praised Mainoo after his impressive performance in the 5-2 win over Ipswich, but former goalkeeper Ben Foster believes the 21-year-old will not be one of the first four or five names on the team sheet unless he gets a loan spell where he can prove himself. United's midfield now boasts a formidable array of qualities, but the challenge lies in balancing these talents to create effective partnerships and combinations for the entire season.
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