Roy Keane Questions Manchester United's Title Chances Despite Midfield Improvements

Roy Keane has welcomed Manchester United’s growing midfield options – but he doesn’t believe they move the club any closer to a Premier League title.

Speaking on Stick to Football, the former United captain weighed up the potential arrival of Carlos Baleba alongside the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo, who shone under Michael Carrick last season. Keane accepted that, on paper, United finally have numbers and variety in the middle of the pitch.

That’s where the praise stopped.

“A good midfield,” he said. Not a great one. And certainly not, in his eyes, a league-winning one.

Keane: Midfield improved, but not enough

Keane agreed that Baleba joining a group featuring Mainoo gives United a stronger core and a more modern blend. He sees goal threat, he sees energy, he sees players who can hurt teams.

But he doesn’t see champions.

“If you’re on about winning the league, I think it’s short,” he argued, stressing that United’s main flaws lie elsewhere. He pointed to last season’s attacking upturn under Carrick, when United became far more dangerous in the final third, as proof that scoring goals is not the primary concern.

United’s real problem, Keane insisted, starts behind that midfield.

Defence still the “big issue”

For Keane, any talk of a title challenge collapses as soon as you look at the back four.

“The issue is at the back, the full-backs and the two centre-halves are still a big issue,” he said, underlining a defensive line he clearly does not trust over a 38-game campaign.

He likes the names in midfield. He likes the profiles. But he doesn’t believe they transform United into a side that can dominate a season.

“On paper, they jump out as really good players. But is there a league-winning midfield there? Probably not. No, I don’t see it.”

Tielemans: Sensible, but not transformational

Keane also weighed up the £35m move for Youri Tielemans, a signing he described as smart business but not a game-changer.

After years of high-cost, high-wage deals such as Casemiro’s, Keane sees Tielemans as a more measured addition: a player who knows the Premier League, carries solid international pedigree and has already shown he can handle Old Trafford with Aston Villa.

“Tielemans is a safety bet for United,” he said, praising the club for avoiding another huge wage commitment and backing the Belgian to cope with the expectation.

But the ceiling, in Keane’s view, is clear.

Tielemans might steady United. He might raise the floor. He won’t raise the roof.

“Will he get United to the very top? No.”

United may finally be building a midfield that looks coherent and competitive. Keane’s verdict is blunt: until the defence is fixed and the middle of the park contains genuine title-winning quality, the Premier League trophy will remain out of reach.