It's been a bruising start to the season for the two Manchester giants, as Manchester United's struggles to rediscover their form under Michael Carrick show little sign of abating, and Manchester City contend with the consequences of their guilty verdict.

But, two young midfielders are offering contrasting visions of a brighter future for both heavyweights, with Ayyoub Bouaddi and Carlos Baleba offering compelling reasons for optimism in their first Premier League starts for their new clubs.

Both arrived as expensive transfers - Morocco's Bouaddi at £85m, Cameroon's Baleba at £65m -- and face considerable expectations.

Bouaddi is heralded as the successor to Rodri, competing with Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández, while Baleba -- ostensibly a replacement for the experienced Casemiro -- must help Carrick establish a midfield identity that has long eluded United.

Baleba must find his place in Carrick's identity-building operation at United, and play his part in helping the club successfully undertake a much-needed rebuild, while Bouaddi must prove that he can fit into City's own specific Pep-inspired playing identity and on-field expectations.

For Carrick, himself one of the most accomplished midfield conductors in Premier League history, the arrival of Baleba could give him the tools needed to solve a longstanding problem for the Red Devils and give his attacking players a platform upon which to operate.

The 22-year-old's introduction to the United midfield has been delayed by an ankle ligament injury sustained before the season began, but after making his debut from the bench against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10, he made his first PL start for the Red Devils at Leeds United on Sunday.

It came at a difficult moment, with United taking only six points from their opening six league games, with criticism from the terraces and the studio intensifying as the promise of last season dissipates.

With United's recruitment strategy under renewed scrutiny, Baleba's strong showing came at just the right time, offering evidence that Wilcox's midfield overhaul could yet pay dividends.

Partnering another expensive recruit, Brazilian Andrey Santos, Baleba brought mobility, physicality and composure against a combative Leeds midfield.

Across 74 minutes, he completed 88 percent of his passes and made a series of vital defensive contributions. Beyond the raw numbers, Baleba injected dynamism into a midfield that had appeared ponderous and vulnerable against more physical opponents.

That was clear last weekend, when troubled 10-men Tottenham largely bossed the midfield at Old Trafford, but Baleba's presence changed the dynamic against Leeds.

His agility in tight spaces and ability for accelerating away out of pressure give opponents something to think about, give United options, and can allow them to change the momentum of a contest.

His combination of defensive tenacity with the ability to turn possession into forward momentum brings another dimension to United, and it's hard to imagine Sandro Tonali enjoying himself as much against a Baleba-led midfield as he did against Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans.

The Cameroonian also relishes physical battles and throwing himself into duels, and perhaps he can bring a certain measure of fearlessness back to United as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha had threatened to do upon their arrival last season.

Unlike that pair last term, his presence and performance were not enough to transform United's fortunes, with Mbeumo's opener being cancelled out by Dominic Calvert-Lewin's equaliser, leaving Carrick averaging just a point a game.

At least the rookie manager took some positives from his Baleba-Santos midfield pairing. "They're both young players adapting to life at this football club, and I thought both of them were terrific today," he said after the match. "That's a massive positive for us."

Not everyone's convinced, however, with former United striker Teddy Sheringham - speaking to Football 365 - arguing that it will take at least six months for Baleba to prove himself as a United player.

"I'm not sold on Baleba," he acknowledged. "Someone like Baleba, with Mainoo [and Tielemans] playing might have to bide his time.

"When that chance does come, [he's] got to grab it with both hands."

Whereas Baleba is an attempt for United to restore order in midfield, Bouaddi's presence at City is a clear continuation, with his arrival a clear signal that they're looking to maintain the technical standards that underpinned their dominance under departed Pep Guardiola.

While Baleba must still prove his maturity, Bouaddi's levelheadedness and calm are remarkable for a 19-year-old.

In the same way that the wonderkid's first competitive start for Morocco -- against Brazil at the World Cup -- afforded the wider viewing public a glimpse of this rare and well-rounded talent, so his first league start against Ipswich was a magnificent introduction to Prem audiences of what to expect from one of the division's most exciting talents.

While Baleba brings the energy, intensity and urgency that United were lacking, Bouaddi's game is cool and controlled, characterised by his understanding of space, sensible recycling and astute judgements on when to attempt to break opposition lines.

He's capable of forging opportunities with sharp through balls (he made seven line-breaking passes), while his defensive qualities -- three tackles, one interception, three clearances, seven ground duels won against Ipswich -- demonstrate an aptitude to really get stuck in and compete in the Prem.

With 93 touches (only three players registered more), he was at the heart of City's performance, even if the contest wasn't as one-sided as Maresca surely would have hoped.

Maresca sought to keep the Morocco international's feet on the ground after his accomplished showing.

"Not bad," was the head coach's low-key verdict after the game. "[I'm] always looking to find minutes and space for good players.

"Ayyoub is very good. He's very young, coming from France, so we need to help him, not put him under pressure every game. I think he is doing well."

Maresca, like Carrick, must find the winning formula from his central midfield options, establish a balance, and mesh together a collection of unfamiliar faces.

Fernandez and Anderson both have their qualities, neither appears to possess Bouaddi's potential as a deep-lying controller. Against Ipswich, he already demonstrated how he can control the tempo of a PL contest, as he did in New York at the World Cup.

His emergence in England comes against the backdrop of potentially seismic consequences for City, with the dark clouds off the field contrasting sharply with their outstanding start to the domestic season under Maresca.

Performances like Bouaddi's against Ipswich suggest that City's on-field future and enduring playing identity is secure, even if the club's broader trajectory remains uncertain.

United's focus needs to be much more short-term. Carrick needs results immediately, and perhaps Wilcox believes - based on their recent investment - that the foundations for United's renaissance start with greater midfield presence and authority.