Michael Carrick worry and current position as Man Utd 'settle on two candidates'

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Manchester United plan to go with Michael Carrick or a gettable coach with 'proven tactical acumen at the highest level' this summer. Carrick is reportedly the frontrunner for the vacant head coaching role, but with limited experience at the highest level, the Red Devils are still considering bringing in someone more seasoned.

There's no denying that the Englishman has been a breath of fresh air since stepping in on an interim basis until season's end following Ruben Amorim's sacking in January. At the time of writing, United sit third in the Premier League standings, looking increasingly likely to secure Champions League football for 2026/27.

However, Carrick may not be around to guide them in Europe's premier footballing competition. As per ESPN , sources have claimed that United's ideal appointment would be someone like Luis Enrique , who has consistently proven he can hang in the big leagues.

The report also claims that United have no question marks surrounding Enrique's capabilities as a manager. That's given they approached him in 2022, prior to the disastrous appointment of Erik ten Hag .

With four league titles, nine domestic cups and a pair of Champions Leagues to his name from his stints in the managerial game with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain alone, Enrique would likely walk into any team on planet earth and is the only high-profile manager with success in Europe. The likes of Andoni Iraola and Julian Nagelsmann have also been linked but their trophy cabinets pale in comparison.

However, luring the Spanish boss away from PSG could be a tough task. The Spaniard may be out of contract with Les Parisiens next summer, but reports suggest that he is poised to sign an extension which will keep him in the French capital until 2030.

Settled with his current club, Enrique recently dropped a major hint that he is set to remain with PSG, at least for the new season. Speaking in a press conference on Wednesday, the 55-year-old revealed that he was already planning for the future alongside Luis Campos.

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About potential activity in the summer transfer window, he said: "There will be small adjustments, just like last year. We won't sign a lot of players."

The latest will no doubt be somewhat of a worry for Carrick, whose appointment is not yet a formality despite being in pole position for the job.

Carrick will believe he's the right man to take on the gig on a full-time basis and is close to delivering what United appointed him for: Champions League football for next season.

However, an appointment wouldn't be without its risks. As things stand, the United job is Carrick's first real taste of the big leagues in a head coaching capacity.

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The 44-year-old enjoyed a brief caretaking role with the Red Devils in the wake of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure in 2021, before moving on to Middlesbrough the following year. The Wallsend-born Premier League legend lasted three years on Teesside before he was replaced by Rob Edwards last summer.

However, with the right relationship with the board, Carrick has proven that he can compete in the English top flight with limited resources. He made no acquisitions in the January transfer window and has been highly successful with the current crop of players he inherited from Amorim.

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