Manchester United are planning to build on the success they’ve had under Michael Carrick in the second half of the 2025-26 Premier League season. Since Carrick returned to Old Trafford as manager, the Red Devils have accumulated more points than any other side in the league en route to finishing third in the English top-flight standings.
The Red Devils have been busy this offseason, as the front office is determined to back Carrick. After seeing the departures of Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho, and Rasmus Hojlund, Manchester United brought in Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Karl Darlow, and it seems that they’re far from done.
But while bolstering their depth is a must to keep up with their more grueling schedule this upcoming season, their current core of players has to step up. So, in today’s SBOTOP feature, we’re looking at these three youngsters who could prove to be difference-makers in 2026-27.
Kobbie Mainoo
To say that Kobbie Mainoo had a topsy-turvy campaign in 2025-26 is an understatement. The young Englishman didn’t have a great start to last season, as he was inexplicably frozen out of the rotation by then-head coach Ruben Amorim. However, everything changed when Michael Carrick took over last January.
Carrick reinstated Mainoo into the starting XI, and the 21-year-old didn’t let him down. Last May, Mainoo scored the marginal goal – his only goal of the season – in the 77th minute to secure a 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford to confirm their return to the Champions League. He was then rewarded with a lucrative five-year contract extension, something which looked unlikely during the winter transfer window, when he considered leaving the club under Ruben Amorim.
Known as a superb ball-carrier and occasional goalscorer, Mainoo will have a lot more on his plate this upcoming season now that Casemiro is no longer around to cover him defensively. He isn’t expected to be the destroyer Casemiro was, but any improvement on that side of the pitch is more than welcome.
This season, Mainoo will continue to play alongside Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park while fighting for minutes alongside Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. Manchester United’s Premier League 2026 odds will drastically improve if Mainoo fully rediscovers his form.
Leny Yoro
Leny Yoro arrived at Old Trafford with the reputation of being among the best centre-backs in his age group in Europe, but the young Frenchman has yet to live up to it so far. After doing well in his debut season with Manchester United, Yoro got into a sophomore slump.
After starting as one of Ruben Amorim’s centre-backs in his infamous back-three setup, Yoro eventually lost his place after a dip in form. This came to a head with a mistake-laden outing against Crystal Palace, where he couldn’t contain Jean-Philippe Mateta. Injuries here and there didn’t help him either.
When Carrick went to a back-four setup upon his return, Yoro didn’t get much of a shot, as Carrick opted for the experienced pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire. At one point, even fellow youngster Ayden Heaven played over Yoro. As a result, Yoro missed out on a World Cup call-up for France this summer.
The 20-year-old defender is still far from a finished article, and he’ll likely use this upcoming season as a prove-it year – especially with Matthijs de Ligt still on the sidelines with a back injury. Barring a down performance here and there, overall, Yoro has the physical tools to keep up with the demands of the Premier League.
Amad Diallo
After a breakout 2024-25 campaign where he produced eight goals and six assists, Amad Diallo had a down year in 2025-26, with only two goals and three assists. His struggles can be attributed to the inconsistency of his position, having played as a wing-back under Ruben Amorim and right winger under Michael Carrick.
With Carrick taking over, Diallo will play on the right wing on a full-time basis, though he can play as a No. 10. The 24-year-old has been coveted by numerous clubs in the transfer market this summer, but the Red Devils are keen to hold onto him for as long as they can, which is a massive vote of confidence.
Diallo reminded everyone of his class during the World Cup, as he was Ivory Coast’s joint-top scorer with two goals, having scored against Ecuador and Norway. With his pace and trickery, we expect Diallo to be a regular in the Premier League 2026 highlights reel, linking up with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Matheus Cunha.
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