Manchester United

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter in Maynooth

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick took time out to talk to the media who cover the club at the Carton House Hotel in Maynooth on Wednesday.

The pre-season 'sit down' is a long-established United tradition.

I have been fortunate enough to be part of them for 25 years now, dating back to 2002 in Amsterdam, four years before Carrick joined Manchester United as a player.

There has only been a couple of occasions when the United boss of the day has refused to co-operate, once during Sir Alex Ferguson's time, the other in Jose Mourinho's.

It is an opportunity to talk in semi-relaxed circumstances, away from the stresses of competing for league points and the turmoil that brings.

Manchester United have had some box office managers down the years, Ferguson and Mourinho obviously, but also Louis van Gaal and Ruben Amorim, who admitted in the session in Chicago last year he often went to games fearing what was going to happen to his team.

Carrick is not that type of character. He doesn't chase headlines or search for handy soundbites.

Today he delivered expansive thoughtful answers on a range of topics.

In a sense, he didn't say anything revelatory.

Everyone knows Manchester United needs new signings, it was obvious he would be supportive of Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.

But that is part of Carrick's appeal, calmless is a major strength.

Make no mistake, he is no pushover, he is mentally tough. If something is not the way he wants, he will say so.

Carrick brought stability to Old Trafford last season. Now he needs to push on. That may require a bit of help.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter in Maynooth

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick wants to keep getting the best out of skipper Bruno Fernandes.

The 31-year-old has entered the final year of his contract, although United do have the option to extend it by another year.

However, he also has a £57m release clause and Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan, plus Turkish outfit Galatasaray are considering whether to trigger it.

Ideally, Fernandes would stay at Old Trafford but so far there has been no progress on a new deal.

Carrick opted against talking about the situation in Maynooth on Thursday afternoon.

However, he clearly feels Fernandes has a major part to play for him this season.

"Listen, we want top players," he said.

"Every good team has players that have made a major impact. That's how it is.

"Bruno has had that for a period of time here. We want to keep pushing and want to get the best out of Bruno and the team around him."

It is not just Fernandes' performances on the pitch that make him such an important member of the Manchester United set-up.

He is also influential off the pitch, taking time to talk with younger players and offer guidance when needed.

"He's been so positive since I came back," said Carrick.

"As much as the performances, it's how he has been around the group, how he leads and takes time to help others, especially the younger players. That comes into play.

"He's in a really good place and looking forward to the season."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone has been answering some of your Manchester United transfer questions

Scott asked: Do United need another left-back with how well Harry Amass has played in pre-season?

Simon said: I just get the impression United do not think Amass is the right man to challenge Luke Shaw for his place and potentially replace him.

I guess ultimately, it is not about standing in for Shaw occasionally, which I think Amass could do, or come on as a substitute. It is if Shaw was injured for a length of time, would Michael Carrick be happy with Amass, at 19, being the first choice left-back and, potentially playing against Manchester City or Real Madrid?

I think it would be a stretch and unfair on Amass.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee said playing in front of an 82,300-capacity Croke Park added "an extra bit of adrenaline" for the Northern Ireland youth international.

The 23-year-old was brought on in the second half to replace Senne Lammens against Leeds and went on to save a crucial penalty during the Red Devils' 5-4 shootout win in Dublin.

Mee has represented Northern Ireland at underage level and, after following the recent All-Ireland finals at the historic stadium, relished the chance to play at Croke Park himself.

"Of course," Mee told BBC Sport NI when asked if the Al-Ireland matches inspired him.

"Being able to play at Croke Park, in front of 85,000 people and having my mum and dad in the crowd there, it is just really special.

"Being able to have that extra bit of adrenaline at the end there, just gets you that extra few inches and helps you make a save."

Despite being a friendly, this match contributed to what has already been a memorable summer at Croke Park and was the first time that two English soccer teams had played there.

Mee, who was born in Birmingham but qualifies for Northern Ireland due to both parents being born in Ireland, has risen through the youth set-up at Manchester United and has 12 caps on the international stage.

"I have played for Northern Ireland up until under-21s," he continued.

"I have had really good memories and met some really good players along the way and that helped with my development.

"Obviously, being over in Ireland with my family and spending time over here, it's always lovely to get over."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter at Croke Park

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United goalkeeper Dermot Mee had a very special night at Croke Park.

Although Mee was born in Birmingham and was a Northern Ireland youth international, his family comes from numerous parts of the Republic of Ireland.

He revealed his mum played camogie at Croke Park and was part of the 83,000-crowd that watched her son save the decisive penalty that clinched a shoot-out victory against Leeds in the historic first game between English sides at the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

"It's a really special moment," he said. "She's played there and now I've come on and done well.

"My mum's mum was from Limerick and her dad's from Wexford. On my dad's side, we've got Galway and Tyrone. So, I'm all over. That's where the name comes from.

"I watched the hurling final because obviously Limerick and Galway, mum versus dad, that was quite an interesting one.

"Mum and dad were in the crowd and that extra bit of adrenaline at the end gets you that extra few inches and helps make a save."

At 23, Mee has already accepted the responsibility of being United's fourth senior goalkeeper.

He signed a two-year contract this summer knowing he would be behind Senne Lammens, Karl Darlow and Tom Heaton.

While Radek Vitek opted to join Middlesbrough at a similar age, Mee was happy to commit to his boyhood club, even though he knows, barring the injuries that ruled Darlow and Heaton out last night, his chances will be limited.

"You have to think about every contract you sign, whether it's an insurance contract or a football contract," he said.

"You just have to weigh up the pros and cons.

"For me, being at Manchester United since 11, it was really hard to turn down.

"I love the club, I love being here, and I want to help the team to do really well this season.

"It's not deflating. From the outside it seems a lot harder than it is.

"I train every day with some of the best players in the world, so if anything, that could be harder than stepping into the games and being on the bench and being ready."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United won 5-4 on penalties against rivals Leeds in a pre-season friendly at Croke Park.

Noussair Mazraoui scored the winning spot kick as the match ended 1-1 in normal time.

Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring in the first half after he swept in a first-time effort from 18 yards.

Brenden Aaronson equalised for Leeds 13 minutes later, when he broke into the box to latch on to Dan James' ball and poke past Man Utd goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

It is common practice these days for transfer fees to have performance-based add-ons. The theory is the selling club gains more if the player goes on to be extremely successful, while the buying club is to some extent protected financially if the transfer doesn't work out.

In some cases, the total value of add-ons is significant - Real Madrid could end up paying an extra £30m to Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham depending on how successful he is over the course of his career in the Spanish capital, for example.

In others, like the potential £1.7m worth of add-ons Brighton's £29.78m signing of Greece Under-21 forward Charalampos Kostoulas, are less significant.

Clubs sometimes say add-ons are 'easily achievable' or 'difficult'.

Easier-to-achieve add-ons can include things like making a basic number of appearances, or scoring a certain amount of goals. Add-ons can also be attached to a team's success rather than the individual player's - a club may agree to an add-on requiring an extra payment if they qualify for Europe, for example.

Others can be more ambitious - tied to extreme levels of individual or collective success, like winning the Champions League or the Ballon d'Or.

An example of the difficulty add-ons can present when discussing valuations would be the claims made in the Portuguese media in 2022 that the first additional payment in Darwin Nunez's £64m-plus-add-ons move from Benfica to Liverpool was triggered by the Uruguayan making just 10 appearances.

Then Liverpool boss Arne Slot rejected speculation he had not started Nunez in some games because it would trigger an additional payment.

Whether Liverpool paid more for Nunez, or club captain Virgil van Dijk - for whom they paid a flat fee of £75m to Southampton in 2017 - cannot be determined without knowing exactly what add-ons were included in the Nunez deal, then figuring out which conditions he has and has not met.

Send our reporters a questions via Ask Me Anything

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tuesday's news headlines suggested Myles Lewis-Skelly could be on the move, with two Premier League clubs reportedly interested.

One source told BBC Sport that Lewis-Skelly was offered to Manchester United in January, but Arsenal say they have not actively offered him to anyone.

United do need a left-back though with Patrick Dorgu, their most recent signing in the position, playing in an advanced role throughout pre-season.

Dorgu was mostly injured after Michael Carrick took charge, but all of his Premier League appearances under the United boss were on the wing or in a wide attacking role.

Luke Shaw started every Premier League game last season, but his overall fitness record is patchy.

United have been linked with a move for Newcastle's Lewis Hall but they accept it would be difficult to sign him, particularly after the departures of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes from the club.

If they did sign Lewis-Skelly, there is also the option that he could fill the third midfielder position there is still debate over, but the feeling is that United want another natural full-back to challenge for a starting role.

Read the full article here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter in Maynooth

Image source, Getty Images

It was third time lucky this summer in the history of Youri Tielemans and Manchester United.

The club seriously looked at the Belgium midfielder in 2019, after he had impressed in an initial loan spell at Leicester City, and again in 2022, as they spent too long holding out for Frenkie de Jong to decide if he was prepared to leave Barcelona.

But it was this July, while the 29-year-old was on World Cup duty, when the Old Trafford outfit made their move, triggering a £35m release clause to snap Tielemans up on a five-year deal from Aston Villa.

He cut a relaxed figure as he sat down for his first extended media interview since his switch, taking time to personally shake hands with all of the journalists present.

He positively beamed at points, noticeably when he asked whether - given he scored Leicester City's winner in the 2021 FA Cup final and then the opener for Aston Villa in their Europa League triumph over Freiburg in May - if he can bring goals to United.

"That's the aim," he replied.

It could be argued Tielemans' arrival addresses an issue United had since Michael Carrick quit in 2018; a scheming midfielder, with an eye for a pass, who can break a defensive line.

Tielemans had a brief chat with Carrick before he completed his move, but the past 10 days have offered a great insight into his boss' expectations.

"He wants me to be free on the pitch, to try to organise the team the best I can," he said. "He has his structure. He wants to have the ball and press in certain ways.

"It might be different to what I'm used to, but it is logical things in my opinion. It is just smelling football, which is what I was doing from a young age at Anderlecht.

"So, for me, nothing changes. It just needs to gel together."

Read the full article here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have confirmed nine of their young players have been given first year contracts by the club.

United are focussing on a smaller group of academy players this season, having opted out of both the EFL Trophy and the National League Cup to prioritise age group football, including the Uefa Youth League and the Premier League International Cup.

Darren Fletcher is taking a squad to the Netherlands on Thursday for the three-day Otten Cup, which also features Benfica, Chelsea, Brazilian side Palmeiras and hosts PSV Eindhoven among the eight-team line-up.

It is likely the players awarded contracts will form the backbone of the United squad: Jacob Watson, Neithan Barbosa, Albert Mills (pictured), Louie Bradbury, Charlie Hardy, Cameron Byrne-Hughes, Jayden Ngwashi, Nathaniel-Junior Brown, Rafe McCormack.

Byrne-Hughes, McCormack and Mills started last May's FA Youth Cup final defeat by Manchester City, with Brown coming on at half-time.

Manchester United are prioritising Newcastleleft-back Lewis Hall, with the 21-year-old England international also in favour of a move to Old Trafford. (Sun, external)

Chelseaand Manchester Unitedhave been offered the chance to sign England midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenalcould be tempted into selling the 19-year-old after the arrival of Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes, 28, from Newcastle. (Football London, external)

Manchester Unitedare considering an opening bid for Club Bruggeleft-back Joaquin Seys, with the 21-year-old valued at £30m. (Mirror), external

Manchester United also made a move to sign Real Madrid and Brazil forward Endrick, 20, on loan but manager Jose Mourinho wants to keep him at the Spanish side beyond the summer. (Mirror, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

With 10 days to go until the 2026-27 Premier League season is under way, our reporters have been answering your questions.

Adrian: Are Manchester United actively trying to bring anyone else in or are we done?

Simon: I don't think Manchester United are 'done', Adrian, no. Or at least if they are, they will be disappointed with the outcome.

What United has done is make a very good job of staying under the radar.

A conversation with someone senior at United about growing concern among the fanbase about lack of signings since Youri Tielemans' £35m move from Aston Villa was confirmed on 14 July was a simple reply that the club should be judged at the end of the window.

That certainly gave the impression of more business being done.

Image source, Getty Images

Man Utd defender Harry Maguire thinks fans can expect "a lot better performances" from the team this season and has urged his fellow players to continue the momentum enjoyed under Michael Carrick so far.

The Red Devils finished third in the league last season and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in three seasons.

The achievement came despite the upheaval of a managerial change, with Carrick brought in to oversee the team before being given the role permanently.

"It's amazing to be back in the Champions League - that's where this club should be," Maguire told the club's media channel., external

"Really excited with the draw, the new format, we're happy to be part of it but we're not just here to be part of the Champions League, we're there to go and compete and play at the highest level and to progress as far as we can.

"If we continue that momentum, that would be great. I think we got the most points since Michael came in in the Premier League so that will be our aim this season.

"Of course we are going to have new ideas and new ways of playing and different tactics that the manager wants from us. I think last season we played really well in a lot of games but we could have played a lot better as well.

"We understand that as players. The results and the points were there but we thought we could have done more in the performance. We have been working on that in pre-season and I think you're going to see a lot better performances next season from us."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have been given a warning about the growing disconnect between the fans and the club, according to the Stretford Paddock podcaster Jay Motty.

On Sunday Luca Black gave up his role as the under 21s representative on the Manchester United Fans Forum.

In a statement shared online, he said that he no longer wished to contribute to "a process with no meaningful impact", citing a lack of accountability and the insensitivity of season ticket bans as reasons.

Motty believes that the resignation is an opportunity for club officials to recognise the damaging consequences of their approach.

"I think Luca's statement points out that there hasn't been a dialogue," Motty told the Devils' Advocate podcast.

"I know Luca, he stands near me in the Stretford End. He's a die hard fan who cares about the club. I know he does.

"And if he's felt the need to do this, to walk away from something that he was proud to do, then that's a warning sign and I hope the club take note of it.

"Because, look, you can build yourself a new 100,000-seater stadium and all the rest of it but if you haven't got fans to go in it you're going to struggle.

"Fans have a passion and affiliation with the club, and if you treat them in a certain way and they feel like there's a disconnect there, then they're going to stop going."

Motty also criticised the club's lack of transfer activity.

United have spent a combined £83m on Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos - and are working on a deal to bring 18-year-old Leicester City midfielder Louis Page to Old Trafford.

"I feel like Manchester United need to act," he said.

"If Louis Page were just a bonus, that would be alright - but if that is your third midfield signing that is a little bit annoying.

"I don't buy into this idea that Man Utd don't have any money. I think with the Champions League and the sponsors we've got - I know Ineos have to cut costs, I understand all that - but I still think Manchester United should be able to go out and spend more than £70m or whatever it is.

"It surprises me and disappoints me because I think this summer or this season is a big opportunity because City got a new manager, Liverpool got a new manager, Chelsea got a new manager.

"Yes, Arsenal won the title and have strengthened with a good signing in Bruno Guimaraes, but, but I don't feel like it's impossible that United couldn't, if we invested in the right way, challenge for the title and I feel like we're going to let an opportunity slip."

Listen to the full episode of the Devils' Advocate on BBC Sounds