Michael Carrick will become Manchester Unitec caretaker head coachplaceholder image
Michael Carrick will become Manchester Unitec caretaker head coach | Getty Images
Reports have revealed what Man United’s January transfer plans are now that Carrick is in charge.
If Carrick can guide United to Champions League football, it would help with finances, player recruitment, and get the Red Devils back on the path to success. It is unclear whether United would appoint Carrick permanently should he help them qualify for the Champions League, but whoever the manager is, it would be a major boost.
However, according to ESPN, Man United’s board hopes that Carrick can do it with the current squad, as they have no plans to sign anyone in January for the new interim manager. They plan to wait until the summer to make any major signings.
Man United board risk blowing Champions League chance
The decision not to sign anyone seems like a fair one at first, as United won’t know who their long-term manager is going to be until the summer. However, football can be reactionary at times, and if you look at the Premier League this season, the Red Devils have a huge chance.
Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle and more are all under-performing this season in the league, making the fight for Champions League football wide open. The top five places will likely be enough to qualify for the competition, and so United have a very realistic chance of achieving that this year more than any.
So, surely the move for United is to take the initiative and spend on some quality additions this month, so that they can get a jump on their rivals, and find some form under Carrick. It is clear the Red Devils need a central midfielder; they are also in need of some extra depth at the back and a striker, so why not go big and try to bring those players in now? It could be the difference between Champions League football and another non-European football season at Old Trafford.
Who should Man United’s main January target be?
Central midfield is the most important area for United to improve, so it has to be one of their midfield targets. Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton likely won’t be available until the summer, so United will have to consider a different target.
They should look at signing someone like Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who has the defensive physicality that United lack in midfield, but he is also a box-to-box midfielder, who could bridge the gap between Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park.
Gomes is expected to cost around £40m to £50m; Man United could sign him in January to boost their chances under Carrick, and then they could also look to add someone like Anderson or Baleba, when they become more available in the summer transfer window. United need to make the most of the chance they have this season, invest in Carrick.
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