Manchester United will hope to compete for the Premier League title this season after finishing third under Michael Carrick, but Jamie Carragher isn't convinced

Jamie Carragher says Manchester United won't win the Premier League title this season because Michael Carrick lacks the "stardust" required - and they've refused to pay for the best players this summer.

Carrick became the permanent manager this summer after making an impact as interim boss following the departure of Ruben Amorim. The ex-United midfielder steadied the ship and guided the club to third place in the Premier League to secure a spot in the Champions League.

He has been given INEOS' blessing and faces a difficult task in 2026/27, with expectations heightened. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos have been signed this summer to reinforce the midfield for a combined £85million, with another midfielder and a left-back still being targeted in the transfer window.

Despite not winning the Premier League since 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United hope to challenge Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool for the title. That goal is some way off, according to Liverpool legend Carragher.

“I personally just don’t think Michael Carrick’s got that stardust as a manager to win a Champions League or a Premier League," Carragher said on The Overlap Fan Debate. “I don’t believe Michael Carrick will win the league or the Champions League with Manchester United, but he’s done a really good job.”

He added: “He could have a good season and put Manchester United in a position to then go and get a Champions League-winning manager.”

United moved early in the transfer window to bring in Tielemans from Aston Villa and Santos from Chelsea following the departure of Casemiro. But Carragher thinks they missed a trick by backing out of the race for Mateus Fernandes, with the midfielder joining Tottenham from West Ham for £85m.

“I was a little bit worried when I saw United linked with Fernandes because I thought that could be a good signing," he said.

“I just looked at him and his age and was surprised United didn’t go for Fernandes. They said it was too expensive but was it that expensive? I know £85m is a lot but you’re never going to get a really top midfielder now for £50m.”

Santos cost £50m from Chelsea and Carrick clearly doesn't agree with Carragher, having been delighted with his impact in pre-season. “Andrey, for such a young man to come in the way he’s come in, his character, his personality is a dream. Literally, he’s a dream," Carrick said last week.

“He’s so positive, so mature, so switched on. He wants to learn. He comes in straight away and he’s trying to help other players and talk in games and communicate in games, and has that personality where he’s got a real substance to him. Delighted to have him."