Michael Carrick considering shock tactical tweak to ease Man Utd midfield crisis with summer transfer in limbo

MASON MOUNT is prepared to occupy a deeper role at Manchester United to ease their midfield crisis. United only have one fit senior central midfielder in Kobbie Mainoo after Casemiro was released and Manuel Ugarte ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the World Cup. The £35million deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta is in doubt but United sources denied reports from an Italian reporter on Friday that the move is off. United have agreed a £50m deal with Chelsea for 22-year-old Andrey Santos, who made 13 Premier League starts last season. Mount started in midfield in United’s goalless draw with Sunderland and 3-0 victory at Brighton in May. United originally bought the 27-year-old from Chelsea in July 2023 to partner Casemiro even though Mount is a playmaker by trade. Read more in football Mount’s positive impact towards the end of last season has effectively safeguarded his future and United head coach Michael Carrick values his work rate and versatility. England international Mount is set to start United’s pre-season schedule in midfield as Mainoo will not report for pre-season until the club’s Dublin training camp starts on August 9. Mainoo has not played a single minute across England’s six games at the World Cup and Thomas Tuchel sent on right back Reece James to play in midfield in the quarter-final win against Norway. Late call-up Nathaniel Chalobah, the Saudi Pro League-based Ivan Toney and Mainoo are the only outfield players yet to appear for England in the United States and Mexico. There is precedent for tournament participants linking up with the United squad earlier than scheduled in pre-season. Newly-signed Fred did not appear for Brazil during the 2018 World Cup and linked up with his new team-mates before his mandatory three-week break had ended. United will come under pressure to finalise deals over the next week, with their first pre-season friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on Saturday. Club sources insist deals for Ederson, Santos and free agent Karl Darlow remain possible. Seventeen of Santos’ 25 starts for Chelsea last term came after Liam Rosenior was appointed in January. Santos played for Rosenior on loan at Strasbourg in one of his four loan spells away from Chelsea. United considered bringing in Darlow, 35, four years ago and he started 22 times for Leeds United last term. Ederson, 26, made two substitute appearances for Brazil at the World Cup and United had always aimed to finalise that planned signing in July.