03 Aug 2026 08:12:00
I get why some fans are frustrated with the lack of movement, but I think we also need to consider that the club's thinking may have changed based on what they've seen in pre-season.
At the start of the summer, the media had us all convinced we were signing three central midfielders. Santos and Tielemans came in pretty quickly, and since then it's gone quiet. Everyone's assuming we've stalled, but what if the plan has simply evolved?
Whether you rate him or not, Mount has been used in a deeper midfield role throughout pre-season and, credit where it's due, he's looked good there. If Amorim and his staff believe that's a genuine option, then suddenly the need for a third specialist CM isn't as obvious.
You'd then have Santos, Tielemans, Mainoo and Mount competing for the two deeper midfield positions. Santos has impressed, Tielemans is proven Premier League quality, Mainoo is expected to kick on again this season, and Mount gives you another option if his transition continues.
Then look at the No.10 role. Bruno can't play every game, and if the club believe Lacey is ready for first-team involvement, you've potentially got your cover there without spending another £50m on someone who blocks one of the academy's brightest talents.
Pre-season isn't just about getting minutes into players. It's also about managers finding answers within their own squad. Mount looking comfortable deeper and Lacey looking capable further forward could easily have changed the recruitment priorities.
I'm not saying we definitely won't sign another midfielder, but perhaps we're all still judging the window based on what journalists were reporting six weeks ago rather than what Carrick has actually learned from working with the squad.
Sometimes the biggest "new signings" aren't signings at all, they're players who the manager suddenly sees in a different role. If that's happened with Mount, and Lacey is trusted to cover Bruno, it makes perfect sense why the club may now feel that Santos, Tielemans, Mainoo and Mount are enough in central midfield, allowing them to focus the remaining budget elsewhere.
03 Aug 2026 08:42:53
I like all that Ports, but Mount's fitness record is poor, so his availability is questionable. If he could stay for, then your assessment is sound, but it's a big if.
I like Lacey.
He can also play out wide, and Cunha can play 10. We have lots of options for forward players, although we still lack a killer goalscorer. We may see Sesko kick on, we may not.
03 Aug 2026 09:08:14
I would not put much weight into pre season performances, they are fitness exercises against teams at different stages of their pre season.
If the club genuinely think Mount is an option for cm, fair enough, but weve had 3 seasons of evidence that he isnt. Still remember people believing he could play cm next to Casemiro under Eth, and that was a catastrophic failure.
03 Aug 2026 09:09:35
Maybe Amorim still being involved is what has people worried. ?
03 Aug 2026 09:32:52
It's got that bad with our manager turnover, fans don't even know who is in charge any more.
03 Aug 2026 09:48:46
Getting 2 x CMs in already this window has alleviated the pressure on getting a 3rd. I think, if we do get one more in, it will be the right one, I'm sure the transfer dept are calm at the moment.
What I think is much more of a priority is the LB situation.
However, with the Rashford situation not being cleared up, it's creating a domino effect where he stays and Dorgu is a LB choice.
For me, it's not the worst scenario.
If that does stay the same, I would like us to get another CM and forward option in then.
I think it's going to be a busy last few weeks for the squad.
I would treat Mount and Lacey as bonuses if they can contribute. I wouldn't be hanging my hat on either of them. We still need a few more additions of quality to compete on all 4 fronts.
03 Aug 2026 10:13:48
Amorim ?? What a wally. ?♂️
03 Aug 2026 10:31:20
I just think Moynt's fitness is such a concern, you cannot rely on him being one of the four. I like him as a player, and, by all accounts, seems to be a good member of the squad, but he just cannot stay fit for extended periods. He would need to do that for a full season to change that view.
I also think that we would lack a more physically dominating player. I think Kone could be a good answer, but we might be waiting for one if the Madrid players. Not sure that will be resolved any time soon. Could be another case of rumours all summer and then Noone is signed.
03 Aug 2026 11:08:23
Mount reminds me of Owen Hargreaves, a really good player who we all want fit because of what they offer the team, but in reality is holding us back from moving on.
03 Aug 2026 11:37:04
Mount 'starring' against Atletico (and getting MOM in many match reports) will suit United down to the ground, as it's proof we won't need a third midfielder signing. Mbuemo grabbing a few at CF won't speed up the chase for a centre forward either. Maybe LB is the only addition we can expect before the window closes...
03 Aug 2026 13:54:50
You never rely on anything pre season, it's a warm up. If the club are basing signings on pre season, that would be amateur.
We still need what we needed at the start of the window.
Without those three key players, we are going to struggle to make top 5. With the right three, we have a good chance of challenging the top 3 positions. It would be delusional to think otherwise.
03 Aug 2026 14:01:02
That's a fair assessment, Spenno.
I watched the game as well, and Mount was brilliant. He deserved the MOTM award. My only worry is whether he can stay fit long enough to put together a decent run of games.
Shea Lacey impressed me too. He's clearly got bags of talent, but because of his size he'll probably get bullied physically at times until he fills out.
We've hardly spent anything this window when you take into account the wages we've freed up and the money we've brought in from player sales. I'm still hopeful we'll get a CB who can also cover RB, plus another CM before the window shuts.
03 Aug 2026 14:43:53
You make a very good point, Ports.
Plans can evolve.
Mount's injury record would be a concern, and as Red Man says, pre season is a different pace.
There is a need for a 5th cm on that basis alone.
A forward depends on Rashford. If he won't leave, we simply don't have space for another top tier signing or wage, imo.
LB Hall would be a great option at the right price. What that is, I've no idea.
I like Robinson at Fulham too.
Gore, Amass, Vietk, Collyer and Bayindir all need new homes. Obi and a couple of others' loan deals need to be sorted.
1st team exits look to be down to Zirkzee and Rashford at the moment.
03 Aug 2026 17:42:35
Red Man, nobody is saying the club is basing transfers solely on pre-season. But, it's entirely logical that performances in training and friendlies influence whether they sign three midfielders or two, or whether someone like Lacey earns a squad role.
That's called evaluating your squad, not being amateur.
The only delusional thing is insisting nothing can change over six weeks while claiming to know exactly where we'll finish in May.
03 Aug 2026 18:18:04
Ports,
Yes, young players at 18,19 can take a step up. A player like Lacey can take a step up and put himself in contention. Heaven can show his strength has improved. However, we knew what our squad of the more mature players was at the end of the season. We knew, and the club should know, what is there.
Unless a Ronaldo jumps out, the key signing requirements are not going to change based on preseason friendlies.
The ones buffing up Mount as meaning we don't need a class CM are only helping the Glazers trying to keep expenditure down.