Sir Alex Ferguson has delivered an important piece of advice to Michael Carrick at Man United

Michael Carrick is preparing for his first season as permanent Manchester United boss and should take on board Sir Alex Ferguson's guidance

There may be a handful of names who have piqued Manchester United boss Michael Carrick's interest at the World Cup. But he should heed the warning of Sir Alex Ferguson and steer clear of any impulsive transfers.

Carrick is now at the wheel as the new Premier League season approaches and with Champions League football to contend with, his squad will likely welcome a few reinforcements in the coming months.

The World Cup can be a competition that makes diamonds, as relatively unknown names excel on the world's grandest stage and are rewarded with big moves once the tournament concludes.

But United and Carrick should avoid courting any of this World Cup's star performers, as the club's greatest ever manager, Ferguson, indirectly advised.

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United are no strangers to making spontaneous purchases after watching players shine at World Cups. The most recent example perhaps being Sofyan Amrabat.

The Moroccan was one of his country's leading lights when they made it all the way to the semi-finals at World Cup 2022 and he soon joined United on an initial loan from Fiorentina.

But he only showed glimpses of the ability he offered up in Qatar. The club didn't even take up the option to sign him permanently from the Italian side. There are plenty of others who fit this bill and United legend Ferguson claimed after retiring that managers should ideally avoid signing players immediately after major tournaments, citing two examples of failure.

He said: "I was always wary of buying players on the back of good tournament performances. I did it at the 1996 European Championship, which prompted me to move for Jordi Cruyff and Karel Poborsky.

"Both had excellent runs in that tournament but I didn't receive the kind of value their countries did that summer. Sometimes players get themselves motivated and prepared for World Cups and European Championships and after that there can be a levelling off."

Carrick should listen to the words of his predecessor and if the opportunity arises to snap up someone who plays well, or even overperforms at this World Cup, he must not bite.

Regardless, the squad should still improve this summer and Carrick's message in the club's yearbook hints at such. He wrote: "We know that we need to keep improving. We have a huge responsibility here to win and play exciting football.

"That never changes, and we should always be striving to compete for the biggest trophies. There are steps to take but we are in a good place to take them.

"We've got a fantastic group of players, and we believe they have the required standards of talent, commitment and determination to be successful here.

"They love being at the club and we can see how badly they want it; that gives us the confidence to know we're really building something and moving in the right direction."

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