Manchester United’s board has already identified four perfect candidates to become the next permanent manager. – Michael Carrick, who also wants the job permanently, must feel what it’s like to work on borrowed time, probably with a strong substitution pulse.
The first test will not be easy. Manchester United host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday and a week later the Premier League leads Arsenal away at the Emirates.
Read: Wow! Believes Premier League club in crisis is already talking to Ruben Amorim
Manchester United have identified their main targets to replace Michael Carrick as manager after the end of the season.
After his dramatic comments after the game against Leeds United and a reported heated encounter with club officials, Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United.
Since then, several names have been linked with taking over as interim manager while the club considers options for its next permanent boss.
Despite former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returning for talks about the role, it is now widely believed that Carrick will be appointed by Manchester United.
But it appears that United have already started preparations for Carrick’s departure, as it is believed that they have made a four-man list of goals that includes an ambitious name.
The summer before the 2026/27 season is expected to make many top managers available, which explains United’s hesitation to hire a new permanent boss immediately after sacking Amorim.
Both Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola have been linked with United, in light of reports that they will leave their current clubs after their contracts expire this summer.
However, a new report from the Daily Express claims that none of the Premier League managers are on the current four-man list that United owners INEOS have put together.
Instead, Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is said to be the name at the top of the list, with the United board keen to hire someone who can handle the pressure and expectations that come with the role.
After winning nine major trophies with Barcelona, including the Champions League in 2015, and another ten with PSG, including a second Champions League title, securing Enrique’s signature will be seen as a major coup for United.
That is why INEOS has three other ideal targets, with Thomas Tuchel (lousy choice) and Mauricio Pochettino (good choice) also included on the list.
When Tuchel was confirmed as Gareth Southgate’s replacement in 2024, it was revealed that he had only signed a short-term contract until the end of the 2026 World Cup finals, leaving his future unclear.
Likewise, Pochettino’s two-year contract was signed in September 2024, making him available to return to club football shortly after the World Cup.
Perhaps the most realistic of the four names on United’s shortlist, according to the report, is Enzo Maresca, who was sacked by Chelsea’s board on New Year’s Day after a sudden and dramatic break with key figures at the club.
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