'As things stand..' - Ornstein provides bombshell update on Man United manager job

At the end of the season, all the attention at Manchester United will turn towards their next permanent manager. Interim manager Michael Carrick has so far done a brilliant job to save their season by taking them closer to Champions League qualification.

Initially brought in as a temporary, steady-the-ship interim fix, the 44-year-old has completely transformed the mood around Old Trafford.

And if the latest whispers are anything to go by, his temporary gig is on the verge of becoming permanent.

According to journalist David Ornstein , Carrick is now the clear-cut favorite to take the full-time reins this summer.

Shedding light on the Old Trafford boardroom dynamics, Ornstein recently dropped a major update.

He noted that while formal interviews haven’t officially kicked off just yet, the club’s extensive background checks and agent conversations are essentially complete.

Sporting Director Jason Wilcox is spearheading the entire recruitment process, and according to Ornstein, Carrick currently sits firmly in “pole position.”

He said:

“I hear United have completed all of their background work and no doubt spoken to representatives, although I’m told no interviews with candidates have taken place yet.

“It’s a huge call for United and their sporting director Jason Wilcox — he’s leading the process and will make a recommendation to the board. As things stand, it might feel like Carrick is in pole position.”

Thomas Tuchel has officially penned an extension with the England national team, Carlo Ancelotti is fully committed to leading Brazil into the 2026 World Cup, and Julian Nagelsmann remains heavily locked into his ongoing project with the German national setup.

That leaves Carrick as the favourite to get the job permanently at Old Trafford.

Fortunately for Carrick, you simply can’t argue with his initial impact. Since stepping into the high-pressure cauldron in January, he racked up an impressive seven wins in his first 11 Premier League matches, catapulting the Red Devils up to third in the table.

He instantly won over the Stretford End with massive, tactical masterclasses that resulted in statement victories over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.

The honeymoon phase has shown a few slight cracks recently, with United stumbling to two defeats in their last four fixtures.