Mason Mount has started just two pre-season games alongside new signing Andrey Santos, but already there are signs the pair could solve a midfield puzzle that has dominated Manchester United's summer. United have spent £83m to bring Santos from Chelsea and also signed Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, yet the departure of Casemiro and a long-term knee injury to Manuel Ugarte left a hole in the centre of the pitch. Manager Michael Carrick has been linked with more midfielders, but Mount's performances in Norway and Finland suggest the answer may already be at Old Trafford.
Mount, 27, joined United from Chelsea for £55m in 2023, but his first two seasons were disrupted by injuries. Last term he played more consistently, and in pre-season Carrick has deployed him in a more advanced midfield role alongside Santos, who sits deep. "He's a little bit more defensive, so it allows me to push on a little bit more and work off him," Mount said after the 5-0 win over Rosenborg. The partnership has clicked quickly, with Santos taking the ball off defenders and spotting gaps while Mount uses his creativity to move United up the pitch.
“Explains how Mason Mount's new midfield role alongside Andrey Santos could solve Manchester United's transfer dilemma.”
United's midfield reshuffle was forced by Ugarte's injury, which will keep him out for months, and Casemiro's contract expiry at the end of June. That left Carrick with only Santos and Tielemans as senior central midfielders, prompting speculation about further signings. Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Tyler Adams have been linked, as has Roma's Manu Kone, while Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni is a rumoured target but would be expensive. However, Carrick may now hold off, given Mount's ability to play both as an attacking midfielder and in a deeper role.
For Manchester United fans, the emergence of a Mount-Santos axis offers a solution without extra spending. It also allows the club to focus on other priorities: a left-sided player and a forward to support Benjamin Sesko, who is recovering from a shin problem. Sesko is currently the only senior centre-forward after Joshua Zirkzee – who scored and assisted against Rosenborg – entered advanced talks with Juventus over a loan with a £30m option to buy. Zirkwee started just one of Carrick's 17 league games last season and is keen to return to Serie A, where he previously impressed for Bologna.
Q: What is Mason Mount's best position for Manchester United? A: Mount has played most of his career as an attacking midfielder but is now being used in a more central role alongside defensive midfielder Andrey Santos. This allows him to push forward and use his creativity, while Santos provides cover behind him.
Q: Why do Manchester United need another midfielder? A: Manuel Ugarte is out for months with a knee injury and Casemiro left when his contract expired. Although they signed Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, Carrick had been expected to add a third midfielder until Mount's performances in pre-season made that less urgent.
Q: Who are Manchester United's midfield options now? A: The senior midfielders are Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Mason Mount. Scott McTominay and others are not mentioned in the sources but could also feature. The club has also been linked with Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Tyler Adams, and Roma's Manu Kone.
What happens next depends on how Mount and Santos perform in the remaining pre-season friendlies and early league games. If the partnership continues to work, Carrick may decide against further midfield investment and instead use funds to reinforce other positions. The futures of Zirkzee and potential new forward signings will also become clearer as the transfer window closes at the end of August.
