Manchester United will pursue opportunities to bolster their squad during the January transfer window, head coach Michael Carrick has indicated, as the club prepares a comprehensive plan to strengthen their defence across the coming year.
The announcement comes after defender Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised the club's board for insufficient summer investment, despite United qualifying for the Champions League. According to Sky Sports, United spent £163m in the summer window, a figure that fell short of promoted Hull (£173m) and Ipswich (£211m).
The club's summer recruitment prioritised midfield reconstruction rather than addressing defensive vulnerabilities. United invested £155m combined on three midfielders: Youri Tielemans (£35m), Andrey Santos (£50m) and Carlos Baleba (£70m). However, reports indicate that Carlos Baleba was considered a top target, while Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos were lower down the list.
The midfield focus left gaps at left-back and centre-forward unfilled. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville highlighted that Carrick had been left short defensively, a problem compounded by Luke Shaw's injury. Young prospect Ayden Heaven has been forced to deputise out of position at left-back, exposing the club's lack of depth in that area.
Despite the summer's cautious approach to spending, Carrick—currently managing United through a five-game winless streak—has signalled his willingness to move decisively when the transfer market reopens. Speaking ahead of Sunday's trip to Leeds, he outlined his intentions to strengthen the squad.
When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan and you want to make the best of it. Whatever that looks like at this stage, we don't quite know. But without doubt, there's opportunity because the transfer window is open. So we'll definitely be looking at that and trying to come out stronger in whatever way that looks like.
Defence becomes the priority for the rebuild
United's squad development strategy unfolds across three phases, with attack and midfield addressed over the previous two seasons. The defensive overhaul now forms the third stage of the reconstruction process.
The club is actively scouting new centre-backs and left-backs as priority positions. During the summer window, United pursued a long-term replacement for Shaw, whose contract expires at the end of the current season. England international Lewis Hall emerged as the primary target, but Newcastle refused to sell after allowing several high-profile departures. Hall subsequently signed a long-term extension at St James' Park.
Beyond Hall, United had also explored Alejandro Balde and Rayan Aït-Nouri as left-back options, but neither move progressed. The club also withdrew from a proposed €45 million deal for Ederson after medical assessments identified a potential knee concern; the Brazilian subsequently committed to a new Atalanta contract.
Uncertainty also surrounds Martinez's future at Old Trafford. The Argentina international's contract, which runs until the end of this season, contains a club-held option to extend for a further year. His public criticism of the hierarchy's ambition has intensified scrutiny around his commitment to the project.
Carrick confident of time to implement vision
United's previous visit to Elland Road marked the end of Ruben Amorim's tenure, but Carrick believes he will receive sufficient time to reshape the team despite disappointing early-season results. Four defeats in the opening nine matches have left United in the bottom half of the Premier League table after six games, raising questions about his job security.
When asked whether he expects to be given time, Carrick responded with conviction about his long-term mission.
I do, yeah. But it's not something that I think about. I'm here to win football matches, but winning football matches short term with an eye on developing the club and pushing the club to be great. Again, in terms of results and winning things, it's a great club anyway, but on the pitch, we need to be great. We haven't quite hit that level in recent times, and I understand that. But I don't think about myself in my own situation, about how much time or what it looks like for me. There's no individual that's more important than this football club.
Carrick has since said United have moved on from Martinez's outburst, and denied divisions within the squad. Internally, the matter is considered resolved after Martinez apologised on social media for the timing and public nature of his remarks, though he maintained his underlying criticisms.
Carrick addresses fan frustration and ambition questions
Martinez's intervention has resonated with sections of the United fanbase who have long shared concerns about the club's direction. The outburst has amplified growing discontent following a poor start to the campaign.
Carrick acknowledged the emotional response from supporters while emphasising his focus on driving standards forward.
I've got frustrations about not getting the right results. The players have got frustrations about not getting the right results. My main focus is helping the team and driving this club forward and leading. Again, pushing the standards, pushing the expectations, pushing the achievements. As a whole club, we're very together on that. Emotion is quite good at times. Fire and passion is good at times. You've just got to use it and guide it in the right way. We'll certainly do that.
Martinez's public statement specifically questioned the ambition of United's hierarchy, who have set a target to win the league title by 2028 as outlined by CEO Omar Berrada. The club has not won a Premier League title since 2013 in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season and has never genuinely threatened to reclaim it during the intervening 13 years.
When pressed on whether United possess sufficient ambition, Carrick outlined the club's trajectory and his personal commitment to restoring former glories.
We're striving to get back to the top. We've been there before, repeatedly. We've had a bit of a spell when we haven't quite been there. For all of us, we're striving to get to the top and we're building. We're acknowledging that we're building and we're coming from behind. That's pretty obvious, it's factual. We're all pushing to get there. No one more so than me. I'm desperate to get this club to where we feel we belong. We've got to earn that and that comes from a lot of different things. We're all pushing in the same direction to try and achieve that.
What happens next for United
Manchester United travel to Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, 18 October 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm. The fixture represents a crucial opportunity for Carrick's side to arrest their winless run and build momentum ahead of the international break.
Following the Leeds encounter, United's next fixture takes them away to Como on Wednesday, 21 October, as the club continues its push to climb the Premier League table and establish a platform for January recruitment activity.
