Jamie Carragher has questioned Manchester United’s decision to sign Youri Tielemans and believes Michael Carrick’s side should instead have pursued Tottenham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
United completed a £35m move for Tielemans from Aston Villa last month, handing the Belgium international a five year contract at Old Trafford. The club had already strengthened the same area of the squad by bringing in Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m.
Improving the midfield became one of Manchester United’s main priorities during the transfer window following Casemiro’s departure at the end of last season. Carrick has therefore received two new options, but Carragher is not convinced United chose the right profile.
Carragher wanted United to move for Fernandes
The former Liverpool and England defender believes Manchester United should have competed more aggressively for Fernandes before the midfielder eventually joined Tottenham.
United had discussed a potential transfer with West Ham but withdrew after being confronted with an asking price of around £85m. Carragher admitted that United’s interest initially concerned him because he viewed Fernandes as a player capable of significantly improving the team.
Carragher pointed particularly to the midfielder’s age and long term potential. Although £85m represents a major investment, he questioned whether the fee was excessive in the current market for players with the quality required at leading Premier League clubs.
In his view, finding an elite midfielder for around £50m has become increasingly difficult. That made Fernandes an option Carragher felt Manchester United should have considered more seriously despite the financial demands involved.
Tottenham ultimately secured the player, leaving United to complete their midfield rebuild with Santos and Tielemans instead.
Tielemans transfer leaves Carragher unconvinced
Carragher also expressed doubts about the timing of Tielemans’ move to Old Trafford. He stressed that he rates the Belgian as a good footballer, but suggested the transfer would have made more sense several years earlier in his career.
His comments came after watching Manchester United in action against Leeds. Seeing Tielemans take a corner prompted Carragher to consider the midfielder’s career path and whether United were signing him at the ideal stage.
Carragher argued that the sequence almost felt reversed. In his opinion, Tielemans could have spent the previous few seasons at Manchester United before eventually moving to a club such as Aston Villa, rather than establishing himself at Villa and then earning a transfer to Old Trafford.
He stopped short of suggesting the midfielder’s strongest years were already behind him, but maintained that United’s decision did not feel as convincing as a move for a younger player such as Fernandes.
Scholes also wants another midfield addition
Despite Manchester United already spending heavily on Santos and Tielemans, Paul Scholes believes Carrick may still need another central midfielder before the transfer window closes.
The former United midfielder considers that area of the pitch one of the club’s remaining priorities. He believes there is already enough flexibility among the attacking options, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo both capable of operating through the middle.
Marcus Rashford could potentially provide another attacking alternative depending on his situation before the end of the window. For that reason, Scholes would prefer United to direct any further business towards central midfield or centre back.
Manchester United enter the new Premier League campaign looking to reduce the gap to Manchester City and reigning champions Arsenal. The club will also return to Champions League competition after the positive early period of Carrick’s tenure.
After significant investment in the squad, expectations around Old Trafford have increased, but the debate over the midfield remains open. Carragher’s preference for Fernandes and Scholes’ call for another addition suggest that questions about the position could continue until the transfer window shuts.
United begin their Premier League season on Saturday against newly promoted Hull City.
