'Tielemans needs a more defensive-minded partner'

Jul 21, 2026 - 07:55
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'Tielemans needs a more defensive-minded partner'
Manchester United's English head coach Michael Carrick during the pre-season friendly match between English Premier League football club Manchester United and EFL Championship club Wrexham AFC.
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BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath discuss transfers in the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate.

Gaz believes United manager, Michael Carrick, might have some hard decisions to make when it comes to midfield this season.

"I've got a lot of thoughts on our centre-midfield and some concerns," he said on the BBC Sounds podcast.

"In an ideal world, Youri Tielemans needs a more defensive-minded partner, which Andrey Santos is. As a centre-midfield pairing, it works quite well.

"But there's just no way United don't play Kobbie Mainoo. Michael Carrick loves him. If Mainoo plays he needs Santos, so a Tielemans and Mainoo partnership doesn't quite fit.

"So it makes me think we should go for another centre-midfielder who would be our marquee signing. Someone like Eduardo Camavinga. But I think that's it."

Listen to the podcast below or on BBC Sounds

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