Even if Ederson is signed in the next few days, it may be a while before United’s midfield make-up for the 2026-27 campaign becomes clear.
Whoever they sign, they will hope their recruitment is more successful than virtually all the players they have tried in Carrick’s favoured position since he joined from Tottenham for £18.6m in July 2006.
Manuel Ugarte (£42.3m, from PSG, August 2024. 69 appearances, two goals)
Mason Mount (£55m, from Chelsea, June 2023. 72 appearances, seven goals)
Sofyan Amrabat (loan, from Fiorentina, September 2023. 30 appearances, no goals)
Casemiro (£70m, from Real Madrid, August 2022. 160 appearances, 26 goals)
Christian Eriksen (Free, July 2022. 107 appearances, eight goals)
Marcel Sabitzer (Loan, from Bayern Munich, January 2023. 18 appearances, three goals)
Donny van de Beek (£35m, from Ajax, September 2020. 62 appearances, two goals)
Fred (£47m, from Shakhtar Donetsk, June 2018. 212 appearances, 14 goals)
Nemanja Matic (£40m, from Chelsea, July 2017. 189 appearances, four goals)
Paul Pogba (£89m, from Juventus, August 2016. 224 appearances, 39 goals)
Henrik Mkhitaryan (£27m, from Borussia Dortmund, July 2016. 63 appearances, 13 goals)
Morgan Schneiderlin (£22m, from Southampton, July 2015. 47 appearances, one goal)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (£14.4m, from Bayern Munich, July 2015. 35 appearances, two goals)
Ander Herrera (£29m, from Athletic Bilbao, June 2014. 189 appearances, 20 goals)
Marouane Fellaini (£27.5m, from Everton, 177 games, 22 goals)
Paul Scholes (Free, January 2012. 42 appearances, five goals)
Anderson (£26m from Porto, July 2007. 179 appearances, nine goals)
Owen Hargreaves (£17m, from Bayern Munich, July 2007. 39 appearances, two goals)
18 signings = £541.2m
Tom Cleverley (Debut, August 2011. 79 appearances, five goals)
Paul Pogba (Debut, September 2011. Seven appearances, no goals)
Scott McTominay (Debut, May 2017. 255 appearances, 29 goals)
James Garner (Debut, February 2019. Seven appearances, no goals)
Kobbie Mainoo (Debut, January 2023. 102 appearances, eight goals)
Toby Collyer (Debut, August 2024. 13 appearances, no goals)
Jack Fletcher (Debut, December 2025. Three appearances, no goals)
Tyler Fletcher (Debut, February 2026. Two appearances, no goals)