Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has reportedly informed the club’s board that three first-team players – Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount – can no longer be counted on if the club is serious about challenging for major trophies next season. The blunt assessment, delivered after weeks of observation in training and behind-closed-doors pre-season matches, has elevated the search for replacements in midfield and attack to the very top of the club’s transfer agenda.
According to multiple sources close to the situation, Carrick’s message to senior figures at Old Trafford was unambiguous. “After watching his series of performances in training and behind closed-door preseason games, there’s no way we can rely on him next season if we’re serious about winning trophies. We need to find his replacement as soon as possible.” While the original reported quote referred to a singular “him,” further details that have emerged make clear the manager’s concerns extend to three players whose form has collapsed dramatically compared with last season.
Carrick, who was confirmed as permanent head coach in May on a two-year contract after steering United back into the Champions League during his interim spell, is said to have presented the board with a clear hierarchy of recruitment needs. Strengthening the areas occupied by Ugarte, Zirkzee and Mount is now viewed as non-negotiable if the club is to build on the momentum generated in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign.
A sharp decline from last season
Those familiar with Carrick’s thinking describe a sense of genuine disappointment. All three players had shown encouraging signs at various points under previous regimes or during Carrick’s own early months in charge. Yet their performances since the squad returned for pre-season have fallen well short of the standards required at a club of Manchester United’s ambition.
Manuel Ugarte, signed from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 with high expectations as a disruptive defensive midfielder, is understood to have particularly frustrated the coaching staff. Last season the Uruguayan offered flashes of the tenacity and ball-winning ability that made him a target, but his pre-season displays have been described as laboured and lacking the intensity Carrick demands. Sources claim the manager has grown increasingly concerned by Ugarte’s positioning, decision-making under pressure, and an apparent drop in physical sharpness. In closed-door matches against lower-league and development opposition, Ugarte is said to have struggled to dictate tempo or provide the platform for the more creative players ahead of him.
Joshua Zirkzee’s situation is viewed as equally troubling. The Dutch striker arrived from Bologna with a reputation as a technically gifted, versatile forward capable of linking play and finishing chances. There were moments last season when he looked a useful option, particularly in certain tactical setups. However, reports from Carrington suggest his pre-season form has been “dramatically below the level required.” Carrick is said to have noted a lack of movement in the final third, hesitant finishing, and an inability to impose himself physically against organised defences. With United needing reliable goal threat alongside or in rotation with other attacking options, Zirkzee’s current trajectory has raised serious questions about his long-term suitability.
Mason Mount completes the trio of players under the microscope. The former Chelsea midfielder has endured an injury-ravaged spell since joining United, and while there was hope that a full pre-season under Carrick’s staff would allow him to rediscover the dynamism that once made him an England regular, early indications have been poor. Sources indicate Mount has looked short of sharpness, struggled to influence games in the pockets of space he thrives in, and has been unable to consistently link midfield and attack. Carrick, himself a midfielder of the highest calibre during his playing days, is reported to have been particularly underwhelmed by Mount’s inability to seize the opportunity presented by a clean slate.
Board informed – priority status confirmed
Carrick is understood to have relayed his concerns in a formal update to director of football Jason Wilcox and other senior executives. The manager’s view is that relying on any of the three as regular starters or even high-impact squad players next season would represent an unacceptable risk for a side that has re-established itself among the Premier League’s top four and is determined to progress further.
The board has reportedly accepted the assessment. Strengthening these positions has now been designated a top priority in the remaining weeks of the transfer window. United are already known to be active in the market for midfield reinforcement following the earlier departure of Casemiro and the need for greater depth alongside new arrival Youri Tielemans. The concerns over Ugarte and Mount have only intensified the urgency in that area. In attack, the questions surrounding Zirkzee add another layer of complexity to a department that must deliver consistently across domestic and European competitions.
Insiders stress that Carrick’s feedback was delivered without personal animosity. The head coach is said to value the professionalism of all three players and acknowledges the difficulties each has faced – Ugarte adapting to a new league and system, Zirkzee adjusting to the physical and mental demands of English football, and Mount recovering from repeated fitness setbacks. Nevertheless, Carrick’s message was clear: sentiment and previous investment cannot override current performance levels if the club is to compete at the highest level.
Broader context of Carrick’s project
The timing of the reported intervention is significant. Carrick has used the early weeks of pre-season to embed his ideas after being given the permanent role. His interim spell had been defined by improved organisation, clearer roles, and a restoration of confidence. With a full summer to shape the squad, the manager is determined not to carry forward elements he believes will hold the team back.
Training sessions at Carrington have been characteristically sharp and intense under Carrick and his staff, which includes experienced figures such as Steve Holland. Behind-closed-doors matches have provided further evidence for the coaching team to evaluate. It is in these controlled environments, away from the scrutiny of competitive fixtures, that the shortcomings of Ugarte, Zirkzee and Mount are said to have become impossible to ignore.
United’s hierarchy is acutely aware of the financial implications. Significant fees and wages were invested in all three players. Moving them on, whether permanently or on loan, would require careful negotiation and potentially accepting losses. At the same time, the cost of inaction – a squad compromised in key areas – is viewed as greater. The club’s ownership, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group, has repeatedly emphasised the need for efficiency and high standards. Carrick’s assessment aligns with that philosophy.
What happens next
Recruitment discussions are already intensifying. In midfield, United are monitoring several targets who could offer the blend of defensive steel, progressive passing and athleticism that Carrick desires. The presence of Tielemans provides one creative option, but the manager is understood to want greater competition and reliability in the deeper roles currently occupied by Ugarte and, at times, Mount.
In the forward line, the situation around Zirkzee adds pressure to identify a striker or versatile attacker who can complement existing options and provide a different profile. Any new arrival would need to be capable of hitting the ground running given the demands of a season that will include Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup commitments.
For the three players themselves, the coming weeks will be critical. Pre-season is not yet complete, and competitive minutes in the remaining friendlies could theoretically alter perceptions. However, sources suggest Carrick’s mind is largely made up. The manager is prepared to give opportunities where warranted, but he is not prepared to build his plans around players he no longer trusts to deliver consistently.
A defining moment for Carrick’s United
This reported stance marks an important early test of Carrick’s authority as permanent head coach. Having earned the role through results and the trust of the dressing room, he is now asserting his judgement on squad composition. Previous United managers have sometimes been constrained by expensive squads assembled under different visions. Carrick appears determined to avoid that trap.
Supporters will recognise the logic even if the specific names provoke debate. Ugarte, Zirkzee and Mount all arrived with promise and have had periods of usefulness. Yet football at this level moves quickly. Last season’s contributions, however valuable at the time, do not guarantee a place in next season’s plans when standards are rising.
Carrick’s message to the board was ultimately one of ambition. Manchester United finished third and returned to the Champions League. The next step requires ruthlessness as well as continuity. If the reports are accurate, the head coach has drawn a clear line: the performances of Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount in training and closed-door matches have left him convinced that the club must look elsewhere.
As pre-season continues and the transfer window moves towards its decisive phase, the focus at Old Trafford has sharpened. Finding suitable replacements for the three players Carrick believes can no longer be relied upon has become a matter of urgency. For a club intent on competing for trophies once again, the manager’s verdict may prove one of the most consequential decisions of the summer.
