Manchester United opened their preseason with a tense 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Leeds United in front of a sold-out Croke Park crowd in Dublin on Wednesday. The match finished level after 90 minutes, but there was still plenty for United to assess, from individual sharpness to a few familiar concerns.

Bryan Mbeumo was the most dangerous player on the pitch and set the tone for the hosts’ goal. After beating his marker in transition, he lifted his head and delivered the final ball for Zirkzee, who finished from close range. Leeds pulled level in the 29th minute when Brenden Aaronson punished a mistake from Tyler Fletcher in midfield, and neither side found another breakthrough before penalties.

Zirkzee’s night was mixed. He scored his second goal of the summer, but he also passed up chances earlier in the match and never fully matched Mbeumo’s influence. The Dutchman has now scored nine goals in 75 appearances since arriving from Bologna, and his uneven showing against Leeds did little to settle the debate over his place in Carrick’s squad. He was withdrawn just after the hour mark.

There was also encouragement for Harry Amass, who made his first preseason start after a string of promising outings. The 19-year-old was neat in possession, showed composure on the touchline, and made sensible choices about when to advance and when to stay back. His one major lapse came after Fletcher’s giveaway, but he recovered well as the game went on.

Senne Lammens made his first appearance of the summer after being handed the No. 1 shirt, producing three saves in 61 minutes and conceding once from a chance he could hardly have stopped. Matheus Cunha also returned, coming on in the 61st minute after his Brazil involvement and recent illness.

Myles Lewis-Skelly may be entering a difficult stage in his Arsenal career after the club’s $101 million (£75 million) move for Bruno Guimarães reduced the space for him in the squad. The teenager’s minutes fell in 2025-26, yet he still managed to start in central midfield ahead of Martín Zubimendi in the Champions League final alongside Declan Rice.

Even so, the market is already circling. football.london report that Chelsea and Manchester United have both been offered Lewis-Skelly, with Arsenal possibly open to a sale. Chelsea have held a long-term interest in the player and, according to the report, a “good offer” could be difficult for the club to turn down.

Sky Sports add that Chelsea have made a “new enquiry” for the England international. Arsenal, however, “do not want to sell” to a local rival, which points to the possibility that the player has been put forward by representatives or intermediaries who believe his minutes could decline further if he stays in north London.

For Chelsea, the issue is practical as much as strategic. The club are trying to trim a bloated squad, but Marc Cucurella’s sale to Real Madrid earlier this summer means they need a direct replacement at left back. Rayo Vallecano fullback Pep Chavarría is said to be close to Stamford Bridge, though the 28-year-old does not carry the same long-term appeal as Lewis-Skelly.

Manchester United would also see the 18-year-old as a player who covers more than one need. He can operate at left back and in midfield, giving them short-term depth for Luke Shaw as well as a longer-term option. Their midfield picture is also thin, with only Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos available as senior central midfielders, or four if Mason Mount is counted in a deeper role.

The Guardian report that Lewis-Skelly could be priced at around $61 million (£45 million). Given the sums United have already spent on Santos and Tielemans this summer, the deal would sit within reach. Arsenal, meanwhile, may decide that a player not central to Arteta’s plans is still valuable as a source of major transfer income.

Manchester United have been given a timely lift with Matthijs de Ligt back in first-team training, a sign that his eight-month spell on the sidelines is edging toward a conclusion.

The defender joined the squad for the first time on this leg of the club’s summer tour of northern Europe, which has already included stops in Finland, Norway and Sweden before the move to the Republic of Ireland. On Monday, he took part in the opening 15 minutes of training at a facility in Co. Kildare, after which he returned to his individual programme as the rest of the group stepped up the intensity.

That does not mean a match return is imminent, but it is still an encouraging stage in his recovery. With the 2026-27 Premier League campaign due to begin in just under two weeks, every player is now back with the squad in Ireland.

That includes those who had been away on post-World Cup breaks, along with De Ligt, Benjamin Šeško, and new goalkeeper Karl Darlow, all of whom were working at Carrington. JJ Gabriel has also rejoined the group after a brief spell away from the travelling party, while new winger Tynan Thompson has earned his first opportunity around the senior squad. The 18-year-old arrived from Tottenham Hotspur with the hope of making a similar impression to Ayden Heaven, who moved from Arsenal in 2025.

Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens are back after illness kept them out of the trip to Gothenburg for the PSG match. Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford trained on Monday after their time with England until the World Cup’s final weekend, and Lisandro Martínez arrived later that evening.

How Carrick shapes his defence for the opening weekend may depend on Martínez’s condition. Manchester United travel east across England to face Hull City on Aug. 22, and Martínez remains the club’s best left center back when fully fit, though he will have had limited time to rebuild after a delayed summer break.

That could open the door for Heaven alongside Harry Maguire. De Ligt, once fully ready, is expected to compete directly with Maguire for the right-sided role, with Leny Yoro also an option on that side because of his right foot.