Carragher: Manchester United's Midfield Mistake with Fernandes

Jamie Carragher has warned Manchester United they backed the wrong midfield horse this summer – and that Mateus Fernandes, not Youri Tielemans, should have been the one walking through the doors at Carrington.

United have rebuilt Michael Carrick’s squad with six new arrivals and a heavy focus on midfield. They moved quickly after a £43m deal for Atalanta’s Ederson collapsed following a medical, swooping on Aston Villa to land Tielemans for £35m in what many have called one of the bargains of the window. Andrey Santos has also arrived from Chelsea for £50m to further stiffen the centre of the pitch.

Carragher isn’t convinced they’ve nailed the key call.

Carragher: United missed their chance on Fernandes

Fernandes had been on United’s radar earlier in the summer, but the club walked away when the numbers climbed. Tottenham agreed a guaranteed £85m fee with West Ham United, a figure Old Trafford chiefs decided they would not match.

On The Overlap Fan Debate, Carragher admitted that decision surprised him.

“I was a little bit worried when I saw United linked with Fernandes because I thought that could be a good signing,” he said. “I just looked at him and his age and was surprised United didn't go for Fernandes. They said it was too expensive but was it that expensive?

“I know £85m is a lot but you’re never going to get a really top midfielder now for £50m.”

For Carragher, this was the kind of big, prime-age midfield signing United have been crying out for. Walking away from the deal, he suggests, may look like short-term prudence but long-term regret.

Tielemans move feels “the wrong way round”

Tielemans, 29, is hardly short on pedigree. He has racked up 244 Premier League appearances since joining Leicester City from Monaco in 2019, then moved to Aston Villa on a free after Leicester’s relegation in 2023. United have now paid £35m to bring him to Old Trafford.

Carragher respects the player. He just can’t shake the feeling that the timeline is off.

“The thing with Tielemans, I was watching the Super Cup and I'd just seen that Man United were on ITV playing Leeds, so I put it on,” he explained. “It just came to me a little bit – Tielemans was taking a corner, and it come to me, he's a good player, don’t get me wrong.

“But you'd almost feel like he should have been at United a few years ago, then gone to Villa – not being at Villa, then gone to United.

“I'm not saying he's had his best days, but it almost felt like the wrong way round. The last three years should have been at United, and then he gets sold to Villa.”

In Carragher’s eyes, United have signed a high-level midfielder – but three years later than they should have.

Mikel and Foster hail a “steal”

Not everyone sees it that way. Inside the game, Tielemans’ arrival has been hailed as one of the smartest deals of the summer.

John Obi Mikel went even further, branding it the standout transfer of the window.

“For me, it's Youri Tielemans,” the former Chelsea midfielder said. “Honestly... how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35million? That's a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player.

“Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a 10 and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy.

“He scores goals, he's dangerous from set pieces, he's brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he's not the quickest, but he reads the game so well.

“He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans.”

Former United goalkeeper Ben Foster is in the same camp.

“I still think Youri Tielemans is the signing of the summer so far. What a bit of business that is,” he said. “I’ve been watching the window so far - Tottenham and Arsenal spending a lot of money, but I still think Tielemans is the best signing.

“For £35million, he is a ready-made, good to go, starting 11 player and I think if you can spend that money on a starter, it is worth every single penny.”

So the debate around United’s midfield rebuild is already split. Carragher sees a missed opportunity in Fernandes and a timeline misjudged with Tielemans. Others see an underpriced, Premier League-proven conductor dropped straight into Carrick’s engine room.

The verdict will not come on a balance sheet or a debate show. It will come when Tielemans walks out in red, and United discover whether they paid smart – or thought small – in a summer that could define their season.