Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one striker on Manchester United’s radar to address a problem that could have been avoided if the board had given Michael Carrick sufficient backing in the summer.

Manchester United had endured a terrible start to the 2026/27 season, winning just two of their first 12 matches across all competitions. Michael Carrick appeared to be on the brink Monday morning, but a decision was made during executive meetings to give the 45-year-old more time to turn results around.

The Reds offered nothing offensively in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Carrick has been without a recognised centre-forward in most matches because of injuries sustained by Benjamin Sesko.

It’s always a risk to start a new season with one striker, especially as a football club with objectives that involve competing for the biggest honours. The fans made it clear they don’t pin the blame on Carrick for United’s current situation. That sits with the ownership and then the dressing room.

Man Utd had Benjamin Sesko injury before his injury

It was clear last season, with fewer fixtures, that United were light on options up front. Bryan Mbeumo has been leading the line in Sesko’s absence this season, but it’s not the same as having a proper centre-forward who can hold up play and bring other attacking players into the game.

Carrick is not seeking assurances over his future from the hierarchy because his focus is on winning football matches and helping United. He could feel hard done by after a summer that consisted of cutting corners, buying cheap, and not signing a left-back or striker when those kinds of players were required to ensure the head coach was fully equipped for the season ahead.

granitegraham 7h Means the manager will keep clutching at straws, he hasn’t tried Mount there yet 🙄 🤣🤣 No seriously this is obviously due to the chaotic recruitment system implemented by Berrada and Wilcox. They should both go . Doesn’t matter who the manager is, your managing one of the biggest names in world football and you only have one , striker on the books. 2 Reply Report

There’s also a lack of options at left-back, with Luke Shaw playing as the primary option when fit. Carrick has shoehorned players into the left-back role, overlooking academy graduate Harry Amass, who has played just 29 minutes of first-team football this season. He’s done the same up front at times with Matheus Cunha to little effect.

This was a risk taken by the United board, and it hasn’t taken long for it to backfire. Sesko is expected to be out until January at the earliest, and The Athletic claims United are exploring the market for centre-forwards in January as a result.

dancoombs 23h It’s the timing I don’t like. Back in January – how convenient- ‘like a new signing’ and we won’t actually buy one until he goes down injured in Feb. Surely they wouldn’t dare… 0 Reply Report

One name under consideration is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been on United’s radar since his time at Everton. It doesn’t help that his present club, Leeds, would demand a significant transfer fee from the Reds, especially if a deal were to materialise midway through the season.

Calvert-Lewin has scored four goals in eight Premier League matches this season, after hitting the back of the net 14 times in his debut season at Elland Road. He scored against United in the recent 1-1 draw between the two rivals.

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin career record by club
• Everton: 273 appearances, 71 goals, 22 assists
• Leeds: 49 appearances, 20 goals, 1 assist
• Northampton: 26 appearances, 8 goals, 1 assist
• Sheffield United: 12 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists

The Leeds striker is under contract until 2028, but it is worth noting that United had a chance to sign Calvert-Lewin as a free agent 14 months ago. This is further proof that the recruitment team are letting the club down, passing on players who quite clearly would make a difference to the team.

mufcgrw1977 2h 100% would have been a gamble but for free in a short term contract, maybe a year would have been minimal risk compared to other business they have done 0 Reply Report

Only time will tell if Calvert-Lewin will join Karl Darlow at United. Or if United will be forced to sign an alternative to the England international. Either way, the Reds are in desperate need of an additional striker.