TWO DAYS TO GO! Man Utd transfer state of play with five deals possible before the window closes after honest Carrick admission

Manchester United have focused on one position in the summer transfer window, signing three central midfielders to address Michael Carrick's most obvious problem.

The departure of Casemiro on a free transfer has been followed by the arrivals of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba from Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton respectively. The trio have cost United a combined £155million and there hasn't been a lot of other movement.

Karl Darlow has joined on a free transfer to become Senne Lammens' back-up, while Rasmus Hojlund, Radek Vitek, Toby Collyer, Tyler Fredicson, Jadon Sancho, Tyrell Malacia and Altay Bayindir have all left.

United now only have until the deadline of 11pm on Tuesday night to change the picture. Carrick has been keen to sign a left-back to provide competition for Luke Shaw all summer. So will they manage it? Here Mirror Football gives you the rundown of what to expect.

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To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:

1. Head THIS WAY

The best place to start is Carrick's most recent comments on transfers, which came in the post-match press conference following the 5-2 win over Ipswich on Sunday.

"It's always difficult to say to be honest, when there's so little time left," Carrick said. "I think the business we've managed to do, I'm pleased with - we're a better group, a better squad and potentially a better team. Adding Marcus [Rashford] into that feels like a new signing.

"In that respect, we're quite happy but we're always hoping that if there's something else to add, I wouldn't shut that down. As it stands, we'll have to wait and see."

That sounds like an attempt to temper expectations to me. United are open to potential deals, but they are not in a mad rush to complete them.

United fans have been frustrated that a left-back has not been forthcoming in the transfer window so far. The position was identified as needing reinforcement but nothing has happened yet. Top target Lewis Hall has proven unattainable from Newcastle, while other names have come and gone.

Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, RB Leipzig's David Raum and Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas have all been mentioned in reports. Balde is now looking unlikely, with United unwilling to pay Barca's asking price of €30m (£25.6m) to €40m (£34.2m), while the Catalan giants don't want a loan deal. Raum is Leipzig's captain so was always a longshot, and while Salinas has a €16m (£13.7m) release clause, he is just 19 years old and also being courted by Atletico Madrid.

United are reportedly looking for a short-term solution to the problem now, with a season-long loan deal - like the one which brought Sergio Reguilion in from Tottenham in 2023 - being considered.

"Manchester United have rebuilt their attack last season. They've rebuilt the midfield this season. It feels like they're going to wait to rebuild the defence for another 12 months," Gary Neville told Sky Sports after the Ipswich game.

"I don't know if there are one or two defenders available, but if there are, can you somehow try and advance that money into this window and then spend less next season? Because it would really make a massive difference if they could get a centre-back and a full-back in.

"You saw at the end of the game [against Ipswich] when Dalot and Shaw go off, you've got [Leny] Yoro playing right-back, and you've got [Noussair] Mazraoui playing left-back. That's not ideal at all. One of them [Yoro] is makeshift full-back at best, there's no lack of willingness for him to play there, but he's not a full-back. Mazraoui can play left-back, but he's not the left-back that you want there."

Joshua Zirkzee is the most high-profile player awaiting an exit, with United wanting to offload the 25-year-old, who has managed just nine goals in 75 appearances. A proposed loan move to Fiorentina with an option to make it permanent has broken down, with the Italian side preferring Everton's Beto, and it now appears that things hinge on events elsewhere.

According to Sky Sport Italy, Juventus are keen on the Dutchman, but only as a replacement for Jonathan David, who could be on the move to Atletico Madrid, who could still sell star striker Julian Alvarez to Arsenal.

Elsewhere, Harry Amass could be loaned out once more, despite impressing Carrick in pre-season and left-back being an area of weakness. “It comes to this stage and this is the stage of the window, there is always different scenarios," Carrick said last week when asked about Amass.

“We try and do the best for each individual player while keeping the group strong. We’ve been really pleased with Harry, he had a really good season that didn't end so well with the injury, he’s done really well in pre-season.”

Fellow academy graduate Dan Gore is heading to Jack Wilshere's Luton on loan, while United also want a loan deal for Diego Leon, who has failed to impress since arriving from Paraguay last summer.

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