Balancing on-pitch revival with major summer squad surgery

Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim at significant cost and seen Michael Carrick spark an unbeaten run built on a notably improved defence and smarter use of analytics. As performances stabilize, the club faces big calls on its squad: potential renewals for players like Harry Maguire, a revived role for a forgotten £55m signing, and fitness boosts such as Lisandro Martínez’s return. Off the pitch, United are reshaping their roster and wage bill by cashing in on at least one transfer flop while lining up targets including a Casemiro successor, a Tottenham defender, and Premier League creators like Morgan Gibbs-White, all under tighter financial and strategic constraints. These decisions will define whether the current upturn under Carrick becomes a foundation for a sustainable rebuild or a short-lived bounce.