One of the biggest positives of Manchester United's pre-season was the form of Mason Mount.

The former Chelsea playmaker impressed in a central midfield position, which had initially eased concerns over the club's failure to sign a third midfielder this summer.

But Mount's injury record has long been a concern and the midfielder missed training again on Tuesday with an ongoing issue, according to Sky Sports.

Mount was taken off as a precaution after pulling up in United's draw with PSG on 8 August but he hasn't featured in a match - or training - since.

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Ruben Amorim jokingly made the point on Saturday that Manchester United's press conferences are 'more boring' now he has left the club.

That is certainly true.

Michael Carrick is simply not willing to court headlines in the same way as Amorim. He is more protective of his players and the harmony he is trying to build at Old Trafford, and knows demands for new players can imply a lack of trust or belief in those he has - and needs.

That is why his 'we want more, we need more' statement to the broadcast media last Thursday was so significant.

It is as far as Carrick is likely to go in demanding new players.

There are a lot of talented youngsters in the Manchester United squad, but they can't be expected to do the job of seasoned professionals.

It is clear they need competition for Luke Shaw at left-back and also a reinforcement in midfield. Carrick did superbly last season by qualifying for the Champions League. Now Manchester United's hierarchy need to help him.

Manchester United

Man Utd have been rather quiet in the summer transfer window as it stands.

Man Utd started the summer transfer window promisingly, signing two midfielders in two days during July as Andrey Santos joined from Chelsea for £48m and was swiftly followed by Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m.

However, goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds is the only other major signing.

A move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson fell through earlier in the summer while deals for Mateus Fernandes and Elliot Anderson failed to materialise as the midfielders joined Tottenham for £85m and Manchester City for £116m respectively instead.

With Casemiro departing in the summer when his contract expired, Man Utd are still in the market for a third midfielder.

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

The lack of sales affects United's next move in the transfer market.

At the beginning of the month, as supporters began to get edgy at the lack of further deals following Tielemans' arrival on 14 July, a senior club source said their business should be judged at the end of the window.

Carrick's "we want more, we need more" assessment of the situation last week was an accurate reflection of the situation.

Competition for the left-back position is required as a matter of urgency. Shaw has a year left on his contract and, despite the fact he started all 38 Premier League games last season, his ability to repeatedly play three games in a week is unclear.

In three weeks, Carrick will have a trip to Everton and a home game with Manchester City to prepare for; in between them is a Champions League game. He must have an alternative option he would feel confident of starting in those games.

Admiration for Newcastle's Lewis Hall is well known. But the club prides itself on its data team coming up with other choices. Surely they are getting to the point where they need to act?

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By Manchester United's usual standards, it has been a relatively quiet transfer window so far.

The only notable additions to the squad have been Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.

Manager Michael Carrick has recently stressed the importance of bringing more players through the door before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Are United already on the back foot before the new campaign has even begun?

Interest in Fernandes from clubs in Europe means this is the second consecutive summer in which his future at Manchester United has been up in the air.

Last summer, the 31-year-old claimed United had told him they would not stand in his way if he wanted to leave, amid interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

In an interview with Portuguese TV station Canal 11 last November, Fernandes said he was "hurt" and "sad" that the club appeared willing to cash in on him.

"I decided not to go [to Saudi Arabia], not only for family reasons, but because I genuinely liked the club," said Fernandes.

"From the club I felt, 'if you go it's not that bad for us'. It hurts me a bit. More than hurting, makes me sad, I'm a player who has nothing to point to, I'm always available, I always give the best of me."

Fernandes added: "The club wanted me to go [away].

"I told the directors that, I don't think they had the courage to make that decision because the coach wanted me. But if I said I wanted to leave, even though the coach wanted me to stay, the club would let me."

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Bruno Fernandes played a pivotal role in Manchester United's third-placed finish last season.

The Portuguese produced a record 21 Premier League assists as his side secured Champions League football.

Fernandes broke the record of 20 assists held by Kevin De Bruyne (2019-20) and Thierry Henry (2002-03).

He started 35 league matches and scored nine goals, one behind Matheus Cunha and two behind Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko who finished the campaign as Man Utd's joint-top goalscorers.

As a result, he is favourite to be crowned PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26 in Manchester next week.

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Manchester United fans, is there any fee Galatasaray could offer that would make sense for United to sell Bruno Fernandes this summer?

After all, the Portugal international is 31 and has less than a year remaining on his current deal at Old Trafford...

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

Manchester United intend to reject any offer for Bruno Fernandes before next month's transfer deadline.

BBC Sport was told last week that Turkish club Galatasaray, plus Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan, were considering whether to test United's resolve to keep their captain.

It is thought Galatasaray had a deal they were intending to put to United, which would reach a final fee of 50m euros (£42.7m).

However, the message from senior sources at Old Trafford is that Galatasaray would be wasting their time.

Although last summer they told Fernandes it was his call whether to accept the mammoth offer put to him by Saudi Pro-League outfit Al-Hilal, with the Portuguese later admitting he felt "hurt" by that stance, this time around United have made their position clear.

Club sources say, as yet, there have been no bids for the 31-year-old, but add that he is not for sale at any price.

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Even though Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has called for more signings to arrive at Old Trafford before the transfer window slams shut, he could face a battle to keep hold of one of his key players.

Reports this week claim Galatasaray are prepared to double Bruno Fernandes' wages to tempt him to move to Turkey.

Sources at United have told BBC Sport that Fernandes is not for sale at any price this summer.

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Manchester United

Speaking of Manchester United.....

Head Coach Michael Carrick is determined to keep pushing to improve his squad this summer.

"We want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that," he said.

"Money's money, I get that. We feel like we have to be pushing for everything we're involved in, while being realistic of what the recent history's looked like over a period of time."

Carrick says he is delighted with United's business so far – they have spent £83m to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, with the out-of-contract Karl Darlow also joining as back-up goalkeeper.

However, with weaknesses at left-back and in central midfield, as they prepare for a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence, Carrick knows the work cannot stop now.

Because in a summer where his club missed out on key targets such as Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes because they refused to match rival offers and are spending less than newly promoted Ipswich and Coventry, Carrick knows more transfer business needs to be done despite a desire to avoid the costly mistakes of the past.

"For now, we've got to make the most of it, but we've got to push every boundary we can to be able to win again, basically. That's the challenge."

Left-back Lewis Hall has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer window.

Losing Hall, 21, would be a blow for Newcastle after the high-profile exits of former captain Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.

However, new signing Amar Dedic is a full-back capable of playing on both sides, though predominantly a right-back.

Could Dedic be a potential replacement if Hall does leave St James' Park?

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That is a very good question, Simon, and one we've actually just been pondering ourselves...