Aston Villa and Fulham are reportedly in a race to sign a Manchester United star who’s played just one minute under Michael Carrick so far.
Manchester United are looking to offload talent in the summer to re-adjust their squad to a possible new manager. Michael Carrick’s future is still to be decided by the club, who plan to find a permanent manager in the summer.
With United sitting in fourth place following their 1-0 victory over Everton on Monday night, Carrick’s management spell has been highly successful. The team has managed to pick up 16 Premier League points out of a possible 18 since his arrival.
Champions League qualification has started to look likely for the club, meaning that an improved level of squad depth will be needed for next season. A defensive midfield signing looks to be the priority at the moment for the club.
If Carrick extends his stay, he will expect to be backed by INEOS in the transfer window in both arrivals and departures. Casemiro has announced his departure at the end of the season, leaving a big role to be filled in the summer.
Villa and Fulham interested in Mount
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Mason Mount has no shortage of interest with clubs keeping a close eye on his situation. Amongst these clubs are league rivals Aston Villa.
Villa have had a long-term interest in the midfielder, who has struggled to have a consistent spot in the United lineup. Injuries have plagued Mount’s United career, preventing him from building form despite some great performances.
Brown revealed that United are likely to accept offers for Mount this summer, saying, “I’m told Aston Villa have been keen on him before, and I’m sure he’s still on their radar, and then you’ve got teams like Fulham who will be looking if he is made available.”
With years of Premier League experience and a Champions League, Mount would be an attractive signing for a number of teams. Brown says, “I can imagine there are a number of Premier League teams who could do with a player like Mount.”
Want to stay as up-to-date as possible on the latest Manchester United updates? Add UtdDistrict as a preferred source on Google for news you can rely on.
Does Mount fit in United’s squad next season?
With just a minute-long appearance under Michael Carrick, Mount’s future at United looks unlikely. His high wages and lack of fitness have made Mount an unfortunate, expensive thorn in United’s side.
Brown spoke on Mount’s passion and ability, saying, “He’s got a very good reputation, and he’s spoken about very highly at Man United. Everybody I speak to says what a wonderful trainer he is, he works very hard, and his general demeanour around the club and in the dressing room is good.”
Read More: Manchester United ‘reject’ chance to sign £50m Premier League star as Liverpool follow suit
Mount’s work rate and professionalism will be missed if he leaves the club, and with Casemiro also leaving, United will have to work hard to reinforce the midfield in the summer. Rumours have begun to spread over who could be brought in.
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba are seen as having adequate Premier League experience and would still provide United with years to improve and grow their attributes. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is also among the players linked to a move to Old Trafford.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.