Michael Carrick is expected to become Manchester United's interim manager until the end of the season after fending off competition from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to get the job
Michael Carrick is set to take charge of Manchester United on an interim basis
Michael Carrick is set to take charge of Manchester United on an interim basis(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United are expected to confirm the appointment of Michael Carrick as the club's new interim manager on Tuesday, it has been claimed. Carrick, 44, has held talks with United's director of football Jason Wilcox over the past week and it has since been decided that he is the man to take the Reds forward until the end of the season.
According to The Guardian, the announcement of Carrick's appointment is scheduled for Tuesday and Darren Fletcher, who has taken charge of two matches since Ruben Amorim's sacking last Monday, is due to be given the chance to be part of the coaching team. Jonathan Woodgate has also been identified as another potential member of Carrick's staff, with the ex-Real Madrid defender working with him as a first-team coach at Boro for three years.
Carrick is anticipated to take his first training session on Wednesday when the players return to training after two days off. He is set to prepare his squad for the visit of Manchester City on Saturday.
United are expected to give Carrick funds to spend during the January transfer window, with midfield one of the positions the club want to strengthen. Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves has emerged as a target for the Reds, with the former Wolves and Porto man valued at around £20million.
Ruben Neves of Al Hilal celebrates after scoring his team's third goal from a penalty during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ettifaq and Al Hilal
Ruben Neves has been linked with a move to Manchester United(Image: (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images))
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Neves, 28, scored Al-Hilal's third goal as they beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Monday. His contract at the Middle East club is up in the summer and United could take advantage with a cut-price deal, according to the report.
Carrick had a three-game caretaker spell at United in November and December 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked. He was unbeaten in that period, overseeing a 2-0 Champions League group game win at Villarreal, a 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Premier League and a 3-2 league victory against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
The ex-United and England midfielder departed when Ralf Rangnick became the interim manager until the end of the season. Carrick was then appointed as the new Middlesbrough manager in October 2022 and spent almost three years at the Riverside Stadium, winning 63 and drawing 24 of his 136 games in charge.
As a player at United between 2006 and 2018, Carrick was part of a glittering period, winning 10 major honours, including the Premier League five times and the Champions League once.
United, who crashed out of the FA Cup against Brighton on Sunday, face City next up in the Premier League this weekend before travelling to Arsenal and hosting Fulham.