Manchester United have decided that they want to appoint their next permanent manager before the start of this summer's World Cup, and the target 'numerous' senior officials have agreed on would be a huge upgrade on Michael Carrick.
Carrick has thrown himself into contention for the job after winning six of his eight matches in caretaker charge, including wins against the top two in the Premier League, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Those results have shot Man United up to third in the standings and on course to qualify for the Champions League, which could be vital to which level of manager they could attract this summer, as well as their transfer budget.
The Red Devils did suffer a disappointing defeat to 10-man Newcastle United in midweek though, and Carrick will be desperate to bounce back when United host fourth-placed Aston Villa at Old Trafford next Sunday in what is a huge game.
Man United Chiefs Want Luis Enrique
luis enrique psg
According to the Manchester Evening News, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers want to have their new manager in place before the North American World Cup gets underway on June 11.
That decision would seemingly rule out the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino, who could all depart their posts after the tournament having taken charge of Brazil, Germany and the USA respectively.
One manager the deadline wouldn't affect as much is Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Enrique, with 'numerous' senior United officials seeing the Spaniard as their preferred choice for the job.
However, there is a fear that the 55-year-old could extend his stay at the Parc des Princes, having already won two Ligue 1 titles and a Champions League during his time in charge.
Luis Enrique Would be a Huge Carrick Upgrade
Manchester United caretaker manager Michael Carrick rouses the crowd
While Carrick has impressed everybody with his adaptation to being the main man at United, Luis Enrique has been described as the 'best coach in the world' following his exploits with PSG, and it would be hard to disagree.
The French giants had been trying for years to win the Champions League with the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in their squad, but they then achieved it last season with fewer superstars and more of a team feel.
Enrique is on course to win his third successive Ligue 1 title having been appointed in 2023, while they will be looking to retain the Champions League too, starting with their two-legged knockout tie with Chelsea this month.
The 55-year-old would bring attractive, efficient football to Old Trafford, with his PSG side scoring 381 goals in his 158 games at the helm.
The Spaniard is someone who would surely United get back to the elite, but now they must convince him of the move.
Can Enrique Really Take United Back to the Elite?
luis enrique
GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT to predict if Enrique would take United back to the elite of world football if he took charge, and this is what it said:
'Luis Enrique could potentially help return Manchester United to Europe’s elite, but success would depend on more than just the manager. Enrique’s intense pressing, possession-heavy style and strong tactical structure have succeeded at FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
'If United backed him with smart recruitment and patience, he could build a modern, aggressive team capable of competing with clubs like Manchester City and Real Madrid. However, rebuilding culture, squad balance, and consistency would take time. Enrique could accelerate the process, but returning to the very top would still require strong leadership, stability, and long-term planning across the club.'
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