Carrick Says Man Utd Will Have To Sign Player For “Important Position” This Summer

BACK David Tully Feb 23rd 2026 Man Utd interim boss Michael Carrick says the club are “fully aware” that they will need to find a suitable replacement for Casemiro. It was announced last month that the Brazilian international will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of his contract this summer. Asked how Casmiro will be replaced, Carrick replied: “Yeah, well, listen, it’s an important position, I think. Not being biased, obviously, as being a midfielder, but I think it is an important position to try and tie everything together.” “You’re connected to the whole team, and that’s sometimes emotionally, a little bit mentally, and showing that composure and understanding of the game a little bit.” “And Case’s has had a big influence within the group on that. So, something we’re fully aware of moving forward, for sure.” Man Utd have a five-man shortlist to strengthen the midfield It is believed that Director of Football Jason Wilcox and Head of Recruitment Christopher Vivell have identified several options to replace Casemiro. Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller are all under consideration. Up until recently, Wilcox and Vivell had a list of 8 to 12 names, but that has now been whittled down to just five. Two midfielders could be recruited While replacing Casemiro will be the top priority, there are now suggestions that the club are hoping to bring in a second player to strengthen the squad in the middle of the park. That is not totally surprising, following the switch from a two-man to a three-man midfield. Of course, a lot will still depend on the club’s budget. If the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League, it will give them a lot more flexibility in the transfer market. Want more news on Man Utd? Add Man U News as a preferred source on Google David Tully David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for the Football News Network.