Manchester United’s midfield rebuild is well under way, but the question lingering around Old Trafford is whether it is complete or merely half-finished.

Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s long-term knee injury have stripped away experience and bite at the base of midfield. In response, United have invested heavily, bringing in Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for a combined £85 million. Both are talented, both are comfortable on the ball, yet neither is a proven Premier League destroyer in the Casemiro mould.

Targets have slipped through United’s fingers. Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have all moved elsewhere, while a deal for Atalanta’s Brazilian international Éderson collapsed after medical concerns. Talks with Brighton over Carlos Baleba underline that recruitment staff still see a gap in the squad, even if they insist there is no panic.

As things stand, Michael Carrick is preparing to start the season with a core of Santos, Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. Mason Mount has shown flashes as a central midfielder in preseason but is already nursing a foot injury. Behind them, 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher is highly rated but remains a project rather than a solution.

Carrick, a former United midfielder who built his playing career on control and intelligence, argues that the current group offers “balance.” Fernandes is the creative constant, likely to start whenever fit. Santos is the only natural holding midfielder. Mainoo brings press resistance and an ability to glide into advanced areas, while Tielemans offers versatility, capable of operating as a deep playmaker or box-to-box link man.

Inside the club, names such as Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Alex Scott, Angelo Stiller, Adam Wharton, Manu Koné and Marc Bernal have all been discussed to varying degrees. The profile is clear: United want another midfielder with athleticism, defensive instincts and the legs to cover ground in transition.

Supporters have seen this story before. Since the days when Carrick lined up alongside Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves, United have spent more than £600 million on central midfielders with limited success. Bruno Fernandes stands out as the exception, not the rule.

On paper, the current midfield is technically gifted and tactically flexible. In practice, it may still be one powerful, mobile presence short of matching the Premier League’s best. Whether United act before the window closes could define their season.