Manchester United begin the new 2026/27 Premier League campaign this weekend against newly-promoted Hull City.

The Reds will be hoping to build on last season where they finished third in the division and returned to the Champions League.

Michael Carrick impressed in his interim role and was rewarded with the permanent head coach position on an initial two-year contract.

Youri Tielemans, Karl Darlow and Andrey Santos have been signed to bolster the squad, and it is reported that a deal for Carlos Baleba of Brighton is almost complete.

Carrick's first signing of the summer was Santos, who joined from Chelsea in a £50 million deal. It was a surprise addition which came out of nowhere.

There were initial doubts about the Brazilian, who had been a squad player at Stamford Bridge, however he performed excellently across pre-season for the Reds.

Santos is likely going to start in midfield against Hull and it will be his position to lose. He is being tipped to have a solid debut campaign at Old Trafford.

Speaking about the new signing, Harry Maguire has predicted for Santos to be a 'huge asset' for the Reds and expects him to have a 'great' campaign.

"He’s 22 years old, but he plays with so much experience and he looks so comfortable and calm to play for this club,” Maguire told Stadium Astro.

“When you’ve obviously played for Chelsea, and then you come here. He’s got Premier League experience at such a young age.

"So I think he’ll have no doubts about whether he can adapt to this club and play at this club, he’s got everything to have an amazing career at this club, a long career at this club.

“He’s still really young. He’s going to improve. He’s going to progress. But even at this moment in time, I’m sure he’s going to be a huge asset for us this season and have a great season.”

Santos has played in multiple different midfield roles in his career so far, but it seems like he wants to develop further as a deeper option who can sweep up behind others in the engine room.

Two things have become clear about Santos during pre-season: He likes to pass forwards as much as possible, often times with his first or second touch, and he knows how to position himself well in the deeper role.

That allows him to make interceptions and interrupt attacks from opposition teams. He will be hoping to develop those skills, alongside others, to be a solid option for Carrick at the base of the midfield.

The likely signing of Carlos Baleba will lead to Santos having competition for that role, although the pair could actually also play together in certain games, but the competition for places will be good for all of the players in midfield.