Michael Carrick under “serious consideration” by major PL rival as pressure on INEOS hits boiling point – report

Manchester United are facing mounting pressure to accelerate their plans to appoint a permanent head coach, as the club risks being left in the lurch come the summer, according to new reports.

Another one bites the dust

INEOS are intent on waiting until the end of the season before reaching a final decision on the long-term successor to Ruben Amorim, when the pool of prospective candidates will grow as contracts come to an end and the World Cup finishes in July. However, two of the primary targets for United’s hierarchy who will be at the tournament in North America, Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti, have now agreed contract extensions with their respective nations, England and Brazil, effectively ruling them out of the running.

Another option high on United’s radar, Roberto De Zerbi, left Olympique Marseille this week and is eyeing a return to the Premier League, with the 46-year-old coach understood to have many admirers at Old Trafford.

But Tottenham Hotspur are also pursuing the Italian, who enjoyed a successful spell with Brighton before his move to France, after sacking Thomas Frank on Tuesday. De Zerbi is even said to favour a switch to London over Manchester as he sees Tottenham Hotspur as the “logical next step” for his career.

The Lilywhites have appointed Juventus’ former manager, Igor Tudor, as interim until the end of the season in Frank’s place, while they consider options. However, in an explosive twist, they are also keeping close tabs on Michael Carrick, who is serving in his own caretaker role at United in the wake of Amorim’s explosive departure at the beginning of January.

The 44-year-old has propelled the Red Devils into the top four with 13 points from a possible 15 in his first five games at the helm, eradicating the dark cloud which engulfed the Theatre of Dreams over Christmas.

The clamour for the legendary midfielder to be given the United job full-time is growing by the week, with INEOS believed to have included him in their vetting process after his impressive start. But if they wait until the summer to make a decision, it may come too late with Tottenham Hotspur circling.

Carrick under consideration

TEAMtalk reveals Carrick is “under serious consideration” by Tottenham Hotspur after the north London club debated appointing the former Middlesbrough manager last summer, before settling on Frank. United’s resurgence over the past month has kept him “firmly on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar”, though Mauricio Pochettino – another name on INEOS’s list – is their first-choice target.

“For Tottenham, it’s not just the unbeaten run that stands out; it’s the structure, the confidence, and the clarity that Carrick has injected into a side that looked directionless only weeks ago,” the report states.

“Should United ultimately choose a different path, Carrick may not be short of top-flight suitors. The 44-year-old’s stock has risen dramatically, and his calm, modern approach to management is resonating across the Premier League.”

A host of other clubs are also said to be interested in Carrick, with Brighton, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace also impressed by his transformative effect at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick: Career Stats as Manager

Final Thoughts

INEOS’s plan to wait until the summer to afford themselves time to identify the ideal candidate to replace Amorim was wise; the fact they appointed ‘Carrick the Caretaker’ as an interim to achieve this was even wiser.

However, it’s a decision which now looks like it may inadvertently backfire on United’s rulers, as the Englishman has outperformed even his most optimistic expectations – and the club’s domestic rivals now want a taste of this success.

This pressure could force INEOS to accelerate their timeline and look to lock Carrick down before someone else gets there first as the pool of alternatives narrows by the second – which would defeat the whole point of their restrained approach.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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