Ince baffled by the Andrey Santos deal
Paul Ince has not held back. The former United midfielder says he is 'baffled' by the club's decision to spend £50 million on Andrey Santos this summer (1) (3). 'The jury is still out,' Ince said, and he is not alone in that assessment. Santos arrives from Chelsea with a big price tag and little Premier League evidence to justify it. Your club's transfer record under scrutiny before a ball is kicked.
Carrick keeping four youngsters in the first team
Michael Carrick has made his call. JJ Gabriel and three other academy prospects will stay in the first-team squad this season rather than going out on loan or dropping back down (2). That means four youngsters bypassing the usual pathway. Carrick clearly sees something worth protecting, none of them will be made available for moves away.
Concern over the five centre-backs
Carrick is worried. The centre-back group, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Harry Maguire, Matthijs De Ligt, and Lisandro Martínez, may not hold up over a full campaign (4). That is five names for two spots on paper. In reality, Carrick fears the depth is fragile and injuries could expose it fast. No new centre-back has arrived yet.
Fan reactions
The mood on Reddit is split between excitement and anxiety. Supporters are poring over a report naming six academy players on the brink of the first team and four others told they can leave. The Santos signing, £50m, unproven, is a recurring flashpoint. Read the full discussion on r/reddevils.
