Manchester United reward Carrick with £20m move for first signing after beating Man City

Following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, Carrick enjoyed a dream debut on Saturday, leading United to a sensational 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu secured a deserved win that propelled United back into the Premier League top four.

The performance was a tactical masterclass, with Carrick switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation that made United look more balanced and aggressive than they had in months.

Despite the immediate success on the pitch, the club hierarchy is moving quickly to provide Carrick with the tools to sustain this momentum.

According to The Guardian, United have allocated a £20m budget to secure Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves as the window’s priority target.

The Portuguese international, who boasts over 200 games of Premier League experience from his time at Wolves, is reportedly eager to return to Europe.

With Neves entering the final six months of his deal in Saudi Arabia, United have reportedly submitted a formal bid, viewing him as the perfect high-quality, low-cost solution to the midfield depth issues that contributed to Amorim's exit.

Carrick’s swift decision to move away from a back three has already paid dividends, particularly in the reintegration of Kobbie Mainoo and the liberation of Bruno Fernandes.

Realigning Fernandes in his natural #10 role, where he recorded a staggering 79 goal contributions during Carrick’s previous stint as an assistant, is seen as vital to salvaging the season.

Securing Neves for £20m would represent a significant show of faith in Carrick’s vision to secure Champions League football before a permanent appointment is made in the summer.