According to sources cited by ESPN, Manchester United is nearing an agreement to appoint Michael Carrick as interim manager for the remainder of the season.
The club aims to make an official announcement soon, with expectations that Carrick will be ready to lead training at Carrington on Wednesday.
Joining Carrick’s coaching staff will be Steve Holland, former England assistant manager, and Jonathan Woodgate, who collaborated with Carrick at Middlesbrough.
Carrick visited Carrington on Tuesday, while the first-team squad had the day off prior to their FA Cup third-round loss to Brighton on Sunday.
On Monday, Carrick engaged in additional discussions with CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, following an initial face-to-face meeting on Thursday.
Although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer met with Berrada and Wilcox on Saturday, it seems he has been overtaken by Carrick in the hiring process.
United insiders have rejected claims that Solskjaer was ever the frontrunner for the position.
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Sources indicate that club management favors Carrick due to his reputation as a more involved coach.
During Solskjaer’s tenure from 2018 to 2021, much of the hands-on coaching was delegated to Kieran McKenna, who is now managing Ipswich Town, and Carrick himself.
It has been noted that Carrick’s personality and coaching skills have positively impacted senior players during his time at the club, making him a preferred choice among some veterans.
This will mark Carrick’s second stint in charge after briefly managing the team following Solskjaer’s dismissal in November 2021, where he oversaw three matches before departing following Ralf Rangnick’s appointment as interim manager.
Manchester United’s next match is against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday, followed by a visit to Premier League leaders Arsenal on January 25.
Report contributed by ESPN’s Mark Ogden.