Manchester United have completed their pre-season preparations ahead of the new Premier League campaign, and Michael Carrick has picked up some serious lessons in the process.
The Red Devils played six friendly matches during the summer, claiming two wins (5-0 vs Rosenborg, 2-1 vs Atletico Madrid), two draws (1-1 vs PSG, 1-1 vs Leeds) and two losses (1-0 vs Wrexham, 4-2 vs AC Milan), as Carrick looked to start to implement his ideas and plans into the squad for the long-term, having been appointed permanently following an excellent interim spell last season.
Some things have worked, and some less so, while other things have become evident. Here are five things we learnt during the team's pre-season, and what we can likely expect in the coming weeks of the transfer window and the rest of the campaign.
1. Mason Mount Can't Be Relied On
Carrick is clearly a big fan of Mason Mount, and he is trying to find a place in his team for the former Chelsea star. Mount has made just 72 appearances for the club over three seasons since joining in a ÂŁ60m deal, with his time at Old Trafford plagued by injuries.
But Carrick tried to give him a new, deeper role in midfield, which initially saw him playing some of his best football in a red shirt alongside Andrey Santos. It even saw reports emerge that the club were considering altering their transfer strategy away from signing a new midfielder this summer.
However, Mount was once again injured against PSG within 30 mins of the game, and subsequently missed the last two pre-season games. Man Utd say it was only a precaution, but it's evident that Mount isn't someone who can be relied upon going forward, and plans must be made to ensure his absence is covered for within the squad.
2. Luke Shaw Needs Replacing
Luke Shaw has been at Man Utd since 2014, when he signed from Southampton in a deal worth ÂŁ30m. Since then, he has had ups and downs at the club, but injuries have been a constant issue.
In 2025/26 Shaw was the only Man Utd player to start every Premier League game, but his performances regularly left plenty to be desired, and with a return to a back four and the fact that United will be playing twice a week, injury concerns are a concern once again.
His performances in pre-season have shown why the club are reportedly keen to bring in a new left-back too, and with just over two weeks remaining of the window, INEOS must step up their plans to find a new first-choice left-back immediately.
3. Heaven and Lacey Ready to Explode
Pre-season has been a great opportunity for young players to show if they're ready to make an impact on the first-team this summer, and two have stepped up more than others.
Ayden Heaven has regularly impressed when featuring for the first-team, but often finds himself behind all the more senior options in the squad. However, this summer, he has proven that he is ready to play when called upon, and arguably deserves his place in the starting lineup for the opening game against Hull.
Alongside him, Shea Lacey is quite clearly ready to fight for a place in the team. The 19-year-old has been one of the standout performers during pre-season, and his technical qualities are there for all to see. Despite having an abundance of attacking options available, Lacey deserves to be considered for minutes just as regularly as anyone else.
4. Zirkzee May Have Man Utd Future
Joshua Zirkzee has struggled for regular first-team minutes at Man Utd since his arrival from Bologna two summers ago, and Carrick hasn't seemingly been a major fan of the Netherlands star either.
Benjamin Sesko is the first-choice striker, while Bryan Mbeumo has often played up front too. With Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford also in the squad and capable of playing as a number nine, Zirkzee's future at Old Trafford looked bleak.
But his performances in pre-season have shown that stylistically he can fit into the squad well, and link with the attackers around him, and that he is capable of having a future at the club if interest in him doesn't materialise before the end of the window.
5. Man Utd Need 3 More Signings
Despite some decent performances in pre-season, and some good signings coming in already, it's very evident that Man Utd need more if they want to be competitive this season.
As mentioned, a left-back should be an absolute priority before the deadline on September 1st, but the club also need a third central midfield signing to come in. Someone who covers ground well and can win the ball back would be the ideal signing, and there are plenty of names being linked to the club.
More depth in attack would be coming in in an ideal world too, with Benjamin Sesko yet to feature in pre-season. More sources for goals would never be frowned upon, and Carrick has also made it clear that he thinks the squad needs more, so the final weeks of the window could shape the new campaign.
The Red Devils played six friendly matches during the summer, claiming two wins (5-0 vs Rosenborg, 2-1 vs Atletico Madrid), two draws (1-1 vs PSG, 1-1 vs Leeds) and two losses (1-0 vs Wrexham, 4-2 vs AC Milan), as Carrick looked to start to implement his ideas and plans into the squad for the long-term, having been appointed permanently following an excellent interim spell last season.
Some things have worked, and some less so, while other things have become evident. Here are five things we learnt during the team's pre-season, and what we can likely expect in the coming weeks of the transfer window and the rest of the campaign.
1. Mason Mount Can't Be Relied On
Carrick is clearly a big fan of Mason Mount, and he is trying to find a place in his team for the former Chelsea star. Mount has made just 72 appearances for the club over three seasons since joining in a ÂŁ60m deal, with his time at Old Trafford plagued by injuries.
But Carrick tried to give him a new, deeper role in midfield, which initially saw him playing some of his best football in a red shirt alongside Andrey Santos. It even saw reports emerge that the club were considering altering their transfer strategy away from signing a new midfielder this summer.
However, Mount was once again injured against PSG within 30 mins of the game, and subsequently missed the last two pre-season games. Man Utd say it was only a precaution, but it's evident that Mount isn't someone who can be relied upon going forward, and plans must be made to ensure his absence is covered for within the squad.
2. Luke Shaw Needs Replacing
Luke Shaw has been at Man Utd since 2014, when he signed from Southampton in a deal worth ÂŁ30m. Since then, he has had ups and downs at the club, but injuries have been a constant issue.
In 2025/26 Shaw was the only Man Utd player to start every Premier League game, but his performances regularly left plenty to be desired, and with a return to a back four and the fact that United will be playing twice a week, injury concerns are a concern once again.
His performances in pre-season have shown why the club are reportedly keen to bring in a new left-back too, and with just over two weeks remaining of the window, INEOS must step up their plans to find a new first-choice left-back immediately.
3. Heaven and Lacey Ready to Explode
Pre-season has been a great opportunity for young players to show if they're ready to make an impact on the first-team this summer, and two have stepped up more than others.
Ayden Heaven has regularly impressed when featuring for the first-team, but often finds himself behind all the more senior options in the squad. However, this summer, he has proven that he is ready to play when called upon, and arguably deserves his place in the starting lineup for the opening game against Hull.
Alongside him, Shea Lacey is quite clearly ready to fight for a place in the team. The 19-year-old has been one of the standout performers during pre-season, and his technical qualities are there for all to see. Despite having an abundance of attacking options available, Lacey deserves to be considered for minutes just as regularly as anyone else.
4. Zirkzee May Have Man Utd Future
Joshua Zirkzee has struggled for regular first-team minutes at Man Utd since his arrival from Bologna two summers ago, and Carrick hasn't seemingly been a major fan of the Netherlands star either.
Benjamin Sesko is the first-choice striker, while Bryan Mbeumo has often played up front too. With Matheus Cunha and Marcus Rashford also in the squad and capable of playing as a number nine, Zirkzee's future at Old Trafford looked bleak.
But his performances in pre-season have shown that stylistically he can fit into the squad well, and link with the attackers around him, and that he is capable of having a future at the club if interest in him doesn't materialise before the end of the window.
5. Man Utd Need 3 More Signings
Despite some decent performances in pre-season, and some good signings coming in already, it's very evident that Man Utd need more if they want to be competitive this season.
As mentioned, a left-back should be an absolute priority before the deadline on September 1st, but the club also need a third central midfield signing to come in. Someone who covers ground well and can win the ball back would be the ideal signing, and there are plenty of names being linked to the club.
More depth in attack would be coming in in an ideal world too, with Benjamin Sesko yet to feature in pre-season. More sources for goals would never be frowned upon, and Carrick has also made it clear that he thinks the squad needs more, so the final weeks of the window could shape the new campaign.
Related Coverage
- Who has stood out in pre-season for Man Utd on Tour 2026? | Manchester United â Manchester United Website
- Man Utd news: Pre-season positives and negatives assessed â BBCInside Man Utd's pre-season with ÂŁ48m signing a hit and stars bonding over party game but big questions still remain
- BBCInside Man Utd's pre-season with ÂŁ48m signing a hit and stars bonding over party game but big questions still remain â The Sun
- Behind the scenes of Man United's final week of pre-season - Amorim joke, card games and Rashford return â Manchester Evening News
