Manchester United have begun a major squad rebuild after enduring the worst Premier League campaign in the club’s history. The Old Trafford hierarchy have invested heavily in attacking and midfield reinforcements, while several senior players have already left or are expected to depart before the transfer window closes.
Casemiro has officially moved on after the end of his United career, while Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan. Jadon Sancho is approaching the final year of his contract and is not expected to remain part of Michael Carrick’s long-term plans. André Onana has also been allowed to leave on loan, while Rasmus Højlund is expected to continue at Napoli after his temporary spell in Italy.
Midfield became an immediate priority following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury. United responded by signing Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35 million and Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a deal worth approximately £50 million, including add-ons. The club are also pursuing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, which could take their total midfield spending to around £160 million.
Santos made 27 Premier League appearances for Chelsea last season, starting 13 matches. Across all competitions, he featured 43 times, scoring three goals and providing four assists. The Brazilian midfielder has now completed his permanent move to Manchester United after making 47 appearances during his three years at Chelsea.
His defensive numbers declined slightly compared with his previous spell at Strasbourg, but Santos offers United composure and accuracy in possession. He is expected to provide a stronger passing outlet from deep and compete with Ugarte, Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo for regular minutes.
Mainoo remains an important part of Carrick’s plans, although he has not yet made his first Premier League start of the new campaign. The arrival of Santos and Tielemans means that the England international faces greater competition in a midfield department that was identified as one of United’s biggest weaknesses last season.
United’s poor opening-day defeat against Hull City demonstrated why further changes are required. Carrick’s side were beaten 2–0 by the newly promoted team after conceding twice from set pieces, exposing defensive disorganization and a lack of physical control in midfield.
The club have also strengthened in attack, with Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo among the key additions. However, Carrick still needs greater balance across the squad, particularly in defense and goalkeeping. The departures of Onana and Altay Bayındır have led United to add cover in goal, while the club continue to assess whether more defensive reinforcements are necessary.
The rebuilding process has therefore affected almost every area of the team. United are attempting to lower the average age of the squad, improve athleticism and establish a more reliable tactical structure under Carrick.
Santos is unlikely to solve every midfield problem on his own, but his arrival gives United a younger and more mobile option at the base of the team. Alongside Tielemans and a potential Baleba signing, he could form part of the new midfield foundation that United have lacked for several seasons.
The challenge for Carrick is now to integrate the new arrivals quickly. United cannot afford another campaign dominated by inconsistency, and the early defeat at Hull has already increased pressure on the manager and his expensive summer rebuild.
