Carrick urges Man United board to push for more signings to boost title bid

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has urged the club’s hierarchy to strengthen his squad further, admitting the Red Devils need more quality and depth to challenge for the Premier League title and compete in the Champions League.

United have spent around £85 million ($114 million) on Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow since the end of last season, but their investment pales in comparison with fellow title contenders Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Carrick believes United must continue pushing in the transfer market if they are to end their wait for a first English league title since 2013.

Carrick demands more signings

Ahead of his first full season as permanent manager following a successful interim spell last season, Carrick made clear that United’s recruitment is not finished.

“I think we’ve done really good business, and we’ve got some really top, top, top players,” Carrick told reporters.

“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.”

United have never paid more than £89.5 million for a single player, the club-record fee spent on Paul Pogba in 2016.

Carrick guided United to third place in the Premier League after replacing the dismissed Ruben Amorim and secured Champions League football for the club.

However, their relatively modest spending has frustrated some supporters, particularly with the new season approaching.

United lag rivals in spending

United have reportedly spent less this summer than newly promoted clubs Coventry City and Ipswich Town, increasing pressure on the club to make further additions.

“Money’s money, I get that. It’s still about the football, and that’s where the competition lies,” Carrick said.

“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 had not matched the spending of their rivals, Carrick admitted he did not have a clear answer.

“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,” he said.

Rashford future remains unclear

Carrick also addressed Marcus Rashford’s return to United following his loan spell at Barcelona.

Barcelona opted against exercising their purchase option on the 28-year-old England international, leaving his future at Old Trafford uncertain.

Carrick, however, remains open to Rashford staying.

“He’s our player, and he’s a good player, and he gives us something a little bit different in the group,” he said.

“Marcus can offer us so much. He has done, and he can do again, so in that respect it’s quite exciting.”

Carrick targets title challenge

Several United players have backed the club to dethrone reigning champions Arsenal, and Carrick is refusing to rule out a title challenge.

“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.”