Michael Carrick has been handed an impossible job at Manchester United following a disastrous summer transfer window. The former midfielder was rewarded with a two-year contract for guiding the team to Champions League qualification, but was immediately undermined by the club's failure to sign his top targets. United missed out on Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, who joined Manchester City and Tottenham respectively, leaving Carrick with a squad lacking depth.

The club's reluctance to spend big resulted in a meager transfer budget compared to rivals. While Carrick secured Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, and Carlos Baleba for a combined $150 million, this spending spree paled in comparison to Manchester City's $451 million, Chelsea's $348 million, and even Tottenham's $315 million. Furthermore, the failure to sign a left-back cover for the injured Luke Shaw has left the defense vulnerable.

With the team struggling to a joint-worst five points from five games and key targets like Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães joining rivals, pressure is mounting on the 45-year-old manager to salvage the season with limited resources.