Carrick confirms Man Utd January transfer signings after Martinez outburst

News

Suraj Radia | Editor

Michael Carrick has hinted that Manchester United have taken Lisandro Martinez’s criticisms on board after revealing that new signings will be considered during the January transfer window.

Martinez caused a stir at Old Trafford this week after an explosive interview in which he criticised the club’s directors and ambitions for a poor summer transfer window in which he ‘expected more’.

Carrick insisted that a line had been drawn after Martinez was fined and made a public apology but it appears the outburst may have proven successful after the United boss confirmed the club would ‘definitely be looking’ at making improvements.

"When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan and you want to make the best of it," Carrick told Sky Sports.

“Whatever that looks like at this stage, we don't quite know. But without doubt, there's opportunity because the transfer window is open. So we'll definitely be looking at that and trying to come out stronger in whatever way that looks like."

"For all of us, we're striving to get to the top and we're building,” Carrick added when asked if United were ambitious enough. “We're acknowledging that we're building and we're coming from behind. That's pretty obvious, it's factual. We're all pushing to get there. No one more so than me.”

Carrick facing Man Utd pressure after underwhelming summer transfer window

United brought in four players in the summer, three of whom were midfielders in addition to backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow for a combined fee of €173 million – an amount that was bettered by nine teams including newly-promoted Hull and Ipswich.

Despite a belief at the start of the summer that a new defender and forward would also be signed, United ended up only focusing on their midfield, leaving Carrick left lacking depth in certain areas amid fresh injury concerns.

With United claiming just six points from their opening six matches and recording their worst start to a top flight season in 40 years, the pressure has already started to pile on Carrick but the 45-year-old is remaining calm.

Asked if he thinks he will get time, Carrick said: "I do, yeah. But it's not something that I think about. I'm here to win football matches, but winning football matches short term with an eye on developing the club and pushing the club to be great.

"We haven't quite hit that level in recent times, and I understand that. But I don't think about myself in my own situation, about how much time or what it looks like for me. There's no individual that's more important than this football club."