Michael Carrick signs new two-year contract with Manchester United: Reaction

Michael Carrick has signed a new two-year contract extension at Manchester United, bringing his stay at the club until 2015, with the option for a further year afterwards.

Carrick said: "The club has gone through a few changes and working under David Moyes has been fantastic. I have won many trophies in my years playing here and I am looking forward to achieving more in the future."

His manager, David Moyes, added: "I am delighted Michael has extended his contract. During my short time at the club it hasn't been hard to notice that Michael is a great reader of the game and has excellent passing ability."

So, this is pretty much what we were expecting. Plenty of people will be delighted, but it does seem a bit odd. Firstly, United have tended to give one-year contracts to players over 30, even the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand - all of whom are vastly superior players to Carrick. It's a good show of faith by David Moyes, but we'll also have to hope this is as well as some new midfielders, not instead of.

There are plenty of suggestions that the club will go in for some new talent in t.hat area as soon as January, with players of the calibre of Ilkay Gundogan and - yes, we know - Andres Iniesta being mentioned. Whatever else happens, we desperately need an upgrade in that part of the pitch