Man Utd
Man Utd 2026/27: Carrick’s progress sets a higher bar, even without title talk
Carrick has United moving forward, but 2026/27 will test whether that progress can last.
Manchester United enter 2026/27 with a sense of guarded belief after a major leap forward last season. From 2024/25 to 2025/26, they climbed 12 places in the Premier League, and under permanent manager Michael Carrick the signs were mostly encouraging. His record of 12 wins from 17 matches helped carry United to third place and back into the Champions League.
That improvement came with some instability, but the overall direction was clear. United finished comfortably above Aston Villa in fourth, though still well short of Manchester City in the chase for second. The wider ambition remains much more ambitious than a top-three finish, with the club still targeting a return to the top as soon as possible and, more specifically, a Premier League title during or before the 150th anniversary season in 2027/28.
The coming campaign should tell us whether last season was a launchpad or simply a strong stand-alone year. History suggests that backing up a top-four finish is no easy task for United, yet there is now greater reason to believe the culture is being restored. Champions League football adds both prestige and pressure, with a busier schedule demanding more consistency across the board.
United’s fixture list offers an immediate test, though not an impossible one. They begin with Hull City and Ipswich Town before facing Manchester City at Old Trafford in the fourth weekend. Tottenham Hotspur also visit soon after, while Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool all arrive across the autumn. Arsenal do not appear until the week before Christmas.
The squad has also been reshaped in key areas. Midfield was the main priority, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans arriving on more manageable deals, while Carlos Baleba is increasingly likely to follow from Brighton & Hove Albion. Cristian Orozco has been signed from Fortaleza, Karl Darlow is now No. 2, and Tynan Thompson has joined from the Tottenham Hotspur academy. Marcus Rashford may also feel like a new signing after a long absence.
Patrick Dorgu is another player to watch after a promising early spell as a winger before injury halted his momentum. Tyler Fletcher and, potentially, JJ Gabriel could also come into the picture if opportunities open up. Given the context, another step forward would count as progress, even if the title is still out of reach for now.
Man Utd
United Confirm Rashford’s No. 9 as Shirt List Settles
United confirm Rashford’s No. 9 as several squad numbers are finalised across the first-team list.
Manchester United have removed the uncertainty around Marcus Rashford’s status by formally assigning him the club’s vacant No. 9 shirt. The decision strongly suggests the forward remains part of the plans at Old Trafford, with the number now confirmed for the season after Rasmus Højlund’s move to Napoli opened it up.
Rashford had already been using the No. 9 in preseason, but the club had not yet made the allocation official. He was also listed without a shirt number in the matchday programme for Saturday’s meeting with Hull City, adding to the speculation before the confirmation arrived.
The reshuffle extends beyond Rashford. Senne Lammens has taken the No. 1 shirt, which was left available by Altay Bayındır’s loan to Celta Vigo this summer. Lammens had previously worn No. 31, but that number has now gone to 19-year-old attacking midfielder Shea Lacey, who moves up from 46.
Several of United’s new arrivals now also have their numbers in place. Karl Darlow will wear 12, Andrey Santos has been given 17, Youri Tielemans takes 18 and Tynan Thompson has been allocated 27.
At the other end of the squad list, 15-year-old JJ Gabriel has been handed No. 77. He already made a preseason appearance that made him the youngest player to ever represent United, although that match does not count as the official record. If Gabriel features before Oct. 25, he will become the club’s youngest player on record.
A few numbers remain unassigned, with one expected to go to midfielder Carlos Baleba once his move from Brighton & Hove Albion is completed. His preferred 17 has already been taken, though he has recently worn 20 and 24.
United’s squad list now looks more settled, with the No. 9 confirmation the clearest sign yet of Rashford’s place in the new campaign.
Hull City
Amad Diallo absent as United begin Hull City clash with injury setback
Amad Diallo missed out for United against Hull, with injury and late fitness issues forcing changes.
Manchester United were forced to reshuffle before Saturday’s Premier League opener against Hull City after Amad Diallo was not named in the matchday squad.
The winger was missing when the team arrived, and his absence opened the door for Bryan Mbeumo to come in alongside Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu in the forward line. Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee were all named among the substitutes.
United’s starting XI was listed as: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Santos, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha.
The bench read: Darlow, Dalot, Martínez, Yoro, Mainoo, Lacey, Rashford, Šeško, Zirkzee.
Before the match, Carrick’s squad update on Friday did not include any reference to a problem for Amad. That changed on Saturday, when Rob Dawson reported that the player was sidelined because of injury. No further details have been made available.
Amad is one of four players unavailable for the fixture. Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton and center back Matthijs de Ligt were also ruled out, while Mason Mount failed a late fitness test after suffering a knock in preseason.
Carrick had previously made clear that Mount still had a chance of being involved, describing his status as “touch and go,” but the midfielder was ultimately not considered fit enough to take part. With Amad out and Mount also missing, United’s attacking options were altered again on the opening day.
Arsenal
Ten Premier League Signings That May Have Gone Under the Radar
A closer look at the quieter Premier League transfers that have slipped past many observers.
Premier League clubs have already committed huge sums this summer, with the division’s spending said to have reached about $3 billion. Yet some of the moves have barely registered amid the wider noise of the 2026/27 season getting under way.
One of the quieter deals saw Arsenal add Illan Meslier on a free transfer. Once viewed as a major prospect at Leeds United, the French goalkeeper arrives after a difficult spell in which mistakes pushed him down to third choice. He did not play a minute last season, and he is expected to provide cover for David Raya alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga.
João Gomes also changed clubs without quite commanding the same attention as some of the bigger deals. After being linked with Manchester United and Atlético Madrid, he moved from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Aston Villa in a $46 million transfer completed the day after the World Cup final. The midfielder offers energy and force rather than creativity.
Bournemouth continued their pattern of shrewd recruitment by signing Álvaro Rodríguez, an ex-Real Madrid striker who produced seven goals and five assists for Elche in 2025/26. The 22-year-old adds depth as Bournemouth balance domestic and European commitments.
Brentford turned to Callum Wilson on a free transfer after West Ham United’s relegation. The 34-year-old scored seven league goals last season, all while starting only 11 matches, and now sits behind Igor Thiago in Keith Andrews’s plans.
Chelsea added Pep Chavarría for $21.6 million from Rayo Vallecano, while Crystal Palace brought in Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free after his injury-hit spell at Arsenal and brief time with Ajax. Everton also strengthened with Christian Nørgaard, who left Arsenal after helping them win the Premier League title.
Manchester United moved for free agent Karl Darlow as backup to Senne Lammens after loan exits for André Onana and Altay Bayındır. Newcastle United signed Aladji Bamba for $47 million, and Sunderland added Thomas Meunier in one of their few new arrivals.
