Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick believes the club can compete with Premier League rivals despite spending less in the transfer market. The Red Devils brought in three midfielders over the summer at a cost of around £150 million ($202m).

Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham all spend more in the off-season but Carrick reckons his team can give all these club a run for their money.

“I certainly feel we can compete,” Carrick told a news conference ahead of United’s trip to Everton on Sunday.

“I think the challenge is just getting the right dynamics, getting the right balance, getting the right group together, getting the best players in the group to enhance the rest of the group.

“The actual amount of money in the end, I understand it can be a big thing. It doesn’t always have to be the answer, but it can be.”

The former United midfielder said he is happy with the squad and said the club made the most of its resources.

“Money is one thing, what you do with it is another thing, how you make the most of it is another thing,” the United boss added.

“It’s about what happens on the pitch at the end of the day, and we just keep giving what we can, giving our best, you know, and keep trying to win.”

Carrick said he clear plans about the composition of the squad for the future.

“I think there is the evolution of trying to improve things all the time, and how the season goes, form, injuries, who’s looking good, what the future looks like,” he said.

“There’s obviously a lot that goes into it, and step by step we’re trying to improve.

“We’ll see how the season goes and what we need to develop, but we’ve obviously got a clear idea what we want to look like coming through this summer to then a little bit further down the line.”

United is currently leading 1-0 against Everton.