Walk into any pub near Old Trafford right now and you'll hear the same thing. People are still trying to wrap their heads around how much the squad has actually shifted. Honestly, if you blinked during the last summer window, you probably missed the fact that the "revolving door" at Carrington wasn't just a metaphor—it was a full-scale renovation.
Manchester United went into the 2025-26 season coming off a pretty brutal 15th-place finish. That kind of disaster forces a club's hand. They didn't just buy a couple of squad fillers; they spent over £200 million to gut the attack and find a keeper who wouldn't make the Stretford End hold its breath every time the ball went backward.
But here’s the kicker. Just as these new players in Man United were starting to find their lockers, the guy who bought them—Ruben Amorim—got the boot. Now, Michael Carrick is back in the dugout as interim, and he’s inherited a weird, expensive, and talented puzzle.
The £60 Million Gamble: Matheus Cunha and the "Number 10" Curse
Let's talk about Matheus Cunha. United paid Wolves £62.5 million for him. It's a massive fee, especially when you consider he’s basically been asked to take over the creative burden that used to sit squarely on Bruno Fernandes' shoulders.
In the old days, you'd see Bruno everywhere. Now, with Cunha in the mix, the dynamic has shifted. Cunha isn't a traditional winger and he isn't a pure "nine." He's a roamer. He picks up the ball in those pockets of space that drive defenders crazy. You’ve probably noticed him dropping deep to link up with Kobbie Mainoo, which is great for possession but sometimes leaves the box looking a bit empty.
The interesting thing is how he’s wearing that number 10 shirt. It carries a lot of weight. Some fans think he’s the missing link, while others are worried we’ve just bought another "luxury" player who doesn't track back. Honestly, his work rate has been decent, but when the team loses the ball, he still looks a bit lost in the transition.
Why Benjamin Sesko is the Striker We’ve Waited For
If Cunha is the silk, Benjamin Sesko is the steel. United beat out a lot of competition to grab him from RB Leipzig for about £66 million. For years, the club has cycled through strikers who were either too old, like Cavani or Ronaldo, or too raw, like Rasmus Hojlund (who, by the way, is currently out on loan at Napoli trying to find his shooting boots).
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Sesko is different. He’s a giant. He’s 6'4", but he runs like a 100m sprinter. It’s actually kind of terrifying to watch him press a center-back.
What people get wrong about Sesko is thinking he’s just a "target man." He’s not. He’s surprisingly tidy with his feet. In the recent 2-0 win against Manchester City—yeah, you read that right, a derby win—his hold-up play was the reason Bryan Mbeumo had so much space to exploit. He occupies two defenders at once. That's something United haven't had since... well, maybe Zlatan?
Bryan Mbeumo: The Signing Nobody Saw Coming
When the news broke that United were dropping £65 million on Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, the internet did what it does best: it complained. "Is he really a 'United' player?" "Why aren't we going for Lamine Yamal?" (As if that was ever happening).
But Mbeumo has been a revelation. Seriously.
While Marcus Rashford is over in Barcelona on loan trying to rediscover himself, Mbeumo has stepped into that wide-right role and made it his own. He’s direct. He doesn't do five step-overs just to lose the ball; he gets his head down and drives.
The partnership he's formed with Sesko is probably the most exciting thing about this "new" United. They have this weird telepathy. Sesko wins the flick-on, Mbeumo is already running. It’s simple football, but after years of over-complicating things, it’s exactly what the fans needed to see.
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The Goalkeeper Situation: Senne Lammens
We have to talk about the man between the sticks. Andre Onana is out on loan at Trabzonspor after a string of errors that honestly became too much to ignore. In his place, United brought in Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for about £18 million.
Lammens is a bit of a throwback.
He’s a shot-stopper first. While Amorim wanted a keeper who could play like a midfielder, Carrick seems happy with a keeper who just, you know, catches the ball. Lammens has that David De Gea vibe—unbelievable reflexes, maybe not the best with a 40-yard diagonal pass, but he keeps the ball out of the net.
In the 2-0 derby win, he made a double save against Haaland that had the whole stadium standing up. That's the kind of confidence a shaky defense like United’s needs. With Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro in front of him, there's finally a bit of stability.
The Kids are Alright: Diego Leon and Patrick Dorgu
It’s not just about the big-money signings. United have dipped back into that "scout the world for wonderkids" strategy that used to be their bread and butter.
- Diego Leon: This kid came from Cerro Porteno in Paraguay. He’s a left-back, he's tiny, and he plays like he’s got something to prove to everyone on the pitch. He only cost about £3 million initially, but he’s already pushing Luke Shaw for a starting spot.
- Patrick Dorgu: Technically an U21 signing, but he’s basically a first-team player now. He’s been filling in at wing-back and even as a traditional winger. His pace is electric.
What Most Fans Are Missing About the Midfield
Everyone is screaming for a new defensive midfielder. It’s been the same story for five years. While the club looked at Carlos Baleba from Brighton and Adam Wharton from Palace, nothing happened in the summer.
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Now, in January 2026, the club has officially confirmed there will be no new signings. That sounds like bad news, but it’s actually a vote of confidence in the current crop. Carrick has basically said, "I’ve got Mainoo, I’ve got Casemiro, and I’ve got Manuel Ugarte. That’s enough."
It’s a risky move. If Mainoo gets injured, the midfield looks thin. But the hierarchy is terrified of making more panic buys like they did in the past. They're waiting for the right targets—like Elliot Anderson or maybe a return for someone like James Garner—rather than just throwing money at a short-term fix.
The "DNA" Debate and Michael Carrick
The departure of Amorim was weird. He was supposed to be the "Chosen One" with his 3-4-2-1 system. But it just didn't click. The players looked like they were thinking too much instead of just playing.
Carrick has gone back to basics. A 4-2-3-1.
- Back Four: Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Shaw (or Dorgu).
- Double Pivot: Casemiro and Mainoo.
- The Three: Mbeumo, Bruno/Cunha, Amad.
- The One: Sesko.
It looks more like a United team. It feels more balanced. The new players in Man United seem more comfortable in this setup because it’s what they’ve played their whole lives. Mbeumo doesn't have to worry about being a "wing-back" anymore; he can just be a winger.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're watching United for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign, here is what you need to keep an eye on to see if this rebuild is actually working:
- The Cunha/Bruno Rotation: Watch if Carrick starts playing them together or if one has to sit out. They occupy the same space, and it can get crowded.
- Mbeumo’s Numbers: He’s the primary outlet now. If his goal contributions drop, United don't have a Plan B on the right side since Antony is on loan at Betis.
- Lammens’ Distribution: He’s a great shot-stopper, but if teams start pressing him high, we’ll see if he has the composure to keep the ball.
- The Youth Integration: Keep an eye on Ethan Wheatley and Chido Obi. With the club not buying anyone in January, these academy grads are the only backup Sesko has.
The "New United" isn't a finished product. It’s a work in progress that has cost a fortune and already seen one manager lose his job. But for the first time in a long time, the profile of the players actually makes sense. They’re younger, faster, and—hopefully—a lot hungrier.