17 hours ago
5
Michael Carrick insists he is 'largely' happy with the transfer window despite Manchester United's failure to sign a new left back or striker.
United's £163million spend on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and teenage winger Tynan Thompson was significantly less than their biggest Premier League rivals and even some of the newly-promoted clubs.
It has raised concerns that United are short of cover for left back Luke Shaw and have not strengthened in attack after turning down an offer for Joshua Zirkzee late in the transfer window from Everton – their opponents on Merseyside on Sunday.
Carrick maintained that he is happy with his squad while acknowledging that United could have done more and must rely on some players filling the gaps by being flexible.
'What squad is ever the perfect squad?' he said. 'You've always got to find ways of adapting. When you're building and going through a period where we're trying to get to the top, you've got to make steps. It's not going to be one hit. It's not just an instant fix and you finish top of the league and you stay there.
'You can always look at it, and there's other things you possibly could have done. Some things become available, some don't. That's just part of evolving the group.
Michael Carrick has insisted he is happy with Manchester United's transfer window despite the club failing to strengthen in a number of areas
'The situation is what it is, in terms of finances and what we can work with. I think for what we've spent, we've certainly made the most of it, without a shadow of a doubt – if not even more than that because of the players we've brought in.
'Largely, I think we're in a good place. So we've got players that are flexible as well throughout the whole team and can play in different positions. As you go through a season, you always need that. So, largely pretty happy, yeah.
'We went into the window wanting to come out stronger from the group that we had last season, and we've definitely added to that. I think we've done a lot of good work in that respect.
'Certainly, the players that we've brought into the group, I'm absolutely delighted with. I think we've done some really good business there for the quality and the level of player that we've got. I'm really, really happy with that.'
Having focussed on a midfield rebuild this summer, United will strengthen in defence at the end of the season after shelving a bid for Newcastle left back Lewis Hall and deciding against a number of options including a deadline-day move for Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Carrick backed Patrick Dorgu to be an option at left back after employing him further up the field throughout his tenure.
'He can certainly play there,' Carrick said. 'He has done, without doubt. I'm not sitting here saying he can't do that. It's just the way we've been since I've been here.
'He actually has been injured, unfortunately, for some time. So, for me, he's almost like a new player to have, and it's almost like a new signing in some ways because he's added so much to the group.
'He's played off the right for Denmark, scored a great goal in the summer playing off the right in a forward position. He can play left-back.'
Zirkzee was expected to leave but ended up staying despite interest from Fiorentina and Juventus, and a late loan bid from Everton. Instead of lining up against United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Dutchman is set to be in Carrick's squad.
'For sure, Josh is important,' added the United boss. 'Josh is happy here and I have a really good relationship with him. What he wants is to play more than he has done and that's good, the healthy competition for places.
'Josh can do some really top things, I've seen it myself. I'm looking forward to him doing that a little bit more often for us.'
