Former Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has been linked with a shock return to Manchester United amid the latest crisis at the Old Trafford club. The ex-England midfielder left the Riverside earlier this summer after failing to take Boro to the Championship play-offs.
A lengthy post-season evaluation resulted in Carrick leaving his role as head coach on Teesside, with Rob Edwards appointed as his successor in the Boro hotseat. So far, Carrick has not returned to full-time work in football and is assessing his options ahead of his next move.
However, Man United's shocking Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two Grimsby Town has ramped up the pressure on Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese boss facing strong calls for a change at Old Trafford.
The hierarchy at the Premier League club are thought to want to stick with their man after several managerial changes in recent years. They have also invested heavily in the playing squad this summer, with the likes of Benjmain Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha joining the Red Devils.
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However, they were unable to stop their side slipping to a two-goal defecit at Blundell Park on Wednesday night, and although Mbeumo and Harry Maguire made it 2-2, they lost the resulting penalty shoot-out.
Carrick and another former Middlesbrough boss, Gareth Southgate, have now been installed as joint favourites to take over at Old Trafford should they decide to make a big change.
According to the latest odds from AceOdds.com, Carrick and Southgate are 6/1 to be the new Manchester United manager, with Mauricio Pochettino and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner at 9/1.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is priced at 11/1 along with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola with French football legend Zinedine Zidane at 13/1.