Michael Carrick has hinted that Manchester United may still make moves in the transfer market as the deadline approaches.
Last month, former head coach Ruben Amorim indicated his intention to strengthen the squad during this window. Nonetheless, frustration arose when the club decided against reallocating the £65 million initially set aside for long-term target Antoine Semenyo, who ultimately chose to join Manchester City from Bournemouth instead.
Currently, United is rumored to be interested in several central midfielders, including Ruben Neves, a former captain at Wolves who is now signed with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Following Carrick’s announcement that Patrick Dorgu, a versatile player known for his left-sided abilities, will be sidelined for "a number of weeks" due to injury, speculation has grown that the club might seek a replacement to fill the gap left by the Denmark international.
During a news conference held to preview Sunday’s Premier League match against Fulham, Carrick was somewhat evasive when asked about potential transfers but did suggest that the possibility remains open.
"Never say never," Carrick remarked. "A lot can happen, and situations can arise unexpectedly. Sometimes we have control over these matters, and other times we do not. I feel quite calm about it. We have demonstrated what we are capable of as a team."
Joshua Zirkzee continues to attract interest, particularly regarding a potential return to Italy, as Juventus weighs its options for pursuing the former Bologna striker, who was acquired by United for £36.5 million around a year and a half ago.
Having recovered from a minor injury, Zirkzee is now fit and ready for the upcoming match against Fulham. "Josh has been working hard to regain his fitness," Carrick noted. "It was fantastic to have him training with the group, and I look forward to collaborating with him further."
Carrick acknowledged that discussions surrounding Bruno Fernandes' future are "on the agenda to some extent," as the United captain is expected to evaluate his situation at the season's conclusion. However, Carrick reassured fans that this matter will be addressed "further down the line."
So far, Carrick has kicked off his interim role—lasting 17 matches until the season's end—on a high note, securing victories against two of the Premier League's strongest teams, Arsenal and Manchester City, which has propelled United into the top four for the first time this season.
Despite this success, critics point out that United has previously triumphed against title challengers, yet often falters against lower-ranked teams. Since late November, they have struggled to secure wins against Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth, and Wolves at Old Trafford in league fixtures, three of which are currently placed in the bottom eight, and Everton even had a player sent off just 13 minutes into the match.
In their last encounter, Marco Silva's well-performing Fulham managed to hold United to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage back in August. Fulham has accumulated 17 points from their past eight games, suffering only one loss, and should they win this weekend, they would trail United by a mere point.
It's no surprise that Carrick is not taking anything for granted. "Marco has transformed Fulham into a highly competitive team," he said. "We must not assume anything just because we are playing at home; it would be completely unfair to do so."
But here’s where it gets controversial: can United continue to compete effectively against stronger opponents while overcoming their struggles against teams lower in the standings? What do you think? Could this inconsistency cost them crucial points in their pursuit of a top-four finish?
