Michael Carrick’s position at Manchester United is under serious threat, with the club’s chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox expected to present a review recommending his replacement to Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
That is the assessment of chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol, who said the planned meeting in Monaco would be far more complicated than a straightforward decision on the manager. United are in the relegation zone, and the club’s recruitment and leadership structure are also likely to come under scrutiny.
Solhekol said Ratcliffe was unlikely simply to accept the recommendation without challenging those responsible for appointing managers and signing players. He suggested the INEOS owner would want to know whether Berrada and Wilcox were “part of the solution or are you part of the problem?”
The situation has left Carrick’s future uncertain despite his previous success as interim manager. He guided United to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification, which was a major reason the club opted to keep him in the role.
Solhekol acknowledged that decision could now be viewed as a mistake, given the number of established managers who were available at the time. However, he said he would prefer United to retain Carrick, arguing that the former midfielder had been treated unfairly.
“100%. I would like to see Carrick keep his job,” Solhekol said. He pointed to Carrick’s record as a player, including 11 major trophies and five Premier League titles with United, and said he had effectively been “hung out to dry”.
Manchester United’s possible replacement for Carrick
Mauricio Pochettino is among the names being discussed as a possible successor, although Solhekol questioned whether the former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager represented a long-term answer.
He said Pochettino had unfinished business in England and retained a strong affection for United, while also having great respect for Sir Alex Ferguson. But Solhekol added that Pochettino did not immediately appear to be a transformational appointment on the scale of Ferguson.
Any move for Pochettino could also carry a significant financial cost because of his existing contract in the United States. Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed as an unlikely alternative, with Solhekol arguing that the Brazil manager would have little reason to exchange that role for a United side sitting 18th in the Premier League.
The uncertainty has also revived questions about United’s wider football strategy. Solhekol criticised a recruitment policy which had seen the club focus on forwards in one summer, midfielders the next and defenders after that, rather than building the spine of a balanced team.
He said the club needed greater consistency in the transfer market and more players with character and personality. Poor recruitment had also left INEOS determined to spend more cautiously after what Solhekol described as substantial sums being squandered on wages and transfers.
United are not currently officially up for sale, Solhekol added. The Glazer family could choose to sell its stake if presented with an offer large enough to tempt it, but there has been no indication that an investment bank has been appointed to market the club.
