Published Aug 10, 2026, 4:10 PM GMT+1

There are problems for Michael Carrick and co to sort out. But United are in a far better position than most could have imagined only seven months ago, with Ruben Amorim unceremoniously sacked and Darren Fletcher unable to stop the rot after assuming caretaker charge.

Carrick's impact was emphatic, and the Red Devils defied the odds to finish third. But perhaps more fundamentally, Carrick also rethreaded broken stings stretching from success down to the very essence of Old Trafford, lost but still the most successful club in modern Premier League history.

He is rebuilding rapports with the fans and rekindling an identity that went wandering. The revival of Kobbie Mainoo bears testament to that.

Why Mainoo's resurgence is so important for Man Utd

Since Carrick's arrival in January, Mainoo has started every Premier League match for Manchester United - bar one. While United's midfield crop has been withered for a while, he still stood proud and proved Amorim wrong, shining at the heart of the division's in-form outfit.

Mainoo is an athletic midfielder who likes to progress the ball forward. We all know this. But looking at the Three Lions star's quality and presence at United in finer detail, he is the perfect all-rounder, albeit with Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte's deficiencies exposing United's need for a world-class No. 6 at times over the past few years.

Looking at Mainoo's role from a more abstract lens, he is also a unifier and spirit-lifter for the fanbase. A thrilling reminder of the magnitude of the Red Devils ability to develop homegrown talent.

In that, he is the perfect player for Carrick to build around, with Santos and Tielemans both able to combine with Mainoo's skillset and drive United forward in the Premier League and Champions League.

It's a reminder that Man United need to be on the lookout for other rising stars such as Mainoo. As luck would have it, INEOS may well have found one.

Man United in talks to sign English prodigy

Homegrown stars like Mainoo and Marcus Rashford have emerged and played influential roles for Manchester United while still in teenagehood. Now, Carrick has the chance to bring another prodigious talent over to the Theatre of Dreams.

According to transfer reporter Pete O'Rourke, Man United and Arsenal have both submitted offers to sign 18-year-old Leicester midfielder Louis Page, who is quickly emerging as an elite talent in midfield.

Though Arsenal and Aston Villa are making concerted efforts of their own, United are the favourites to secure the youngster's signature, with the player keen on the move to Old Trafford.

Named EFL Apprentice of the Year last season, Page somehow managed to thrive when breaking into Leicester's first team as the Foxes collapsed. They have fallen into League One, but the teenager shone throughout, playing 20 times in all competitions and making his mark across 18 outings (five starts) in the Championship,

Given that Page, a technically gifted and remarkably composed midfielder, can "play a variety of roles in midfield, from six and eight to #ten", there's a sense that he could emulate Mainoo and challenge the 14-time England star, boasting natural physicality and power and a penchant for carrying the ball into the danger area and picking out a surging teammate with a precise pass.

Sound like anyone Carrick might know? There is nothing to suggest that Mainoo won't continue to play a starring role for his outfit over the coming year, but Page would provide the rising star with an understudy of his own. Given that Tielemans and Mason Mount already occupy roles in the team, this could be a shrewd move that will pay dividends.

Mainoo and Page could star in tandem in the years to come. A midfield duo with English blood and the potential to star for a Manchester United with title-winning ambitions.

Page might not be ready for the limelight just yet, but he could make a big contribution next year, plugging a hole and deepening Carrick's options. It's time for INEOS to make it happen and ensure Arsenal do not end up with one of the country's most exciting prospects.