Carrick's Transfer Warning: Man United Can't Stop Now — 'We Need More'

COUNTY KILDARE, Ireland — Michael Carrick isn't satisfied. Not even close.

Manchester United have already splashed £85m this summer to land Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. But with the transfer window slamming shut on Sept. 1, Carrick has made it crystal clear: this squad needs more.

"We're delighted with the players we've brought in, first and foremost," Carrick said from United's preseason camp in Ireland. "I think we've improved the group in different ways — balance, quality and the direction we want to go in. We've got some top, top, top players."

Then came the punchline.

"We always want to improve... we want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that, so that never stops. We've got to keep pushing."

United have been heavily linked with Newcastle's Lewis Hall as they hunt for a left-back. And sources say the club are also eyeing a third midfielder after Casemiro's exit and Manuel Ugarte's knee ligament injury, which is set to sideline the Uruguayan for most of the season.

"There's one or two areas where we'd like to improve and we feel that there's the possibility to improve," Carrick said. "But again, that needs to be something that we can do that makes us better and improves the group, whether that's quality or a little bit of depth. That's something we've got to manage."

Carrick wouldn't put a number on how many new faces he wants in the final 18 days — but he's clearly pushing for more.

The Money Situation

United have brought in funds from Rasmus Hojlund's permanent move to Napoli, Radek Vítek's transfer to Middlesbrough and a sell-on clause triggered by Mason Greenwood's switch from Marseille to Fenerbahce. That leaves their net spend at around £30m.

Sources close to the club insist there's still money in the pot. United had the finances to match Tottenham's £85m bid for Mateus Fernandes — but decided to back away.

After Spurs splashed out for Sandro Tonali, United now stand as the only traditional top-six side to never spend £100m on a single player.

Carrick, though, isn't panicking.

"Money's money, I get that," he said. "It's still about the football, and that's where the competition lies."

He's demanding United push every boundary to win again — but insists whatever they do has to be right.

"We're pretty clear in the messages that we need to keep pushing and there's certain things that we want to try and do, but it needs to be right as well."