Manchester United are still deliberating over Michael Carrick’s future after a tense day of internal talks, with senior figures at Old Trafford focused on what they see as the right succession plan before making any final call.
According to Telegraph, Carrick was left uncertain on Monday night after discussions at Carrington, where the hierarchy spent the day examining their next move amid a worsening run of form. His job is described as being in “serious peril”, with no immediate decision taken despite the growing pressure around the club.
There was a clear sense that United do not want to move too quickly. The report states the club are “determined to settle on the right succession plan before wielding the axe”, a line that underlines both the urgency and the caution now shaping events behind the scenes.
Michael Carrick awaits Manchester United decision
As of Monday night, Carrick had not been informed of any final outcome. The expectation, for now, is that “he expects to take training on Tuesday”, unless club officials intervene before players and staff return to Carrington. That detail says plenty about where matters stand, with uncertainty still hanging over the training ground.
United’s season is said to be “in a tailspin”, and that has prompted intensive talks involving key decision-makers. Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada were “locked in discussions” on Monday, while co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was involved remotely via video link.
Succession plan includes Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann
If United do decide to dismiss Carrick, attention will quickly turn to replacements. The report names Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann among the leading options under consideration. Both would represent significant appointments, and the fact their names are already being discussed suggests planning is well advanced, even if no formal step has yet been taken.
For now, Manchester United remain in evaluation mode. Carrick is still waiting, the leadership group is still talking, and the next move could come quickly once the club decides who is best placed to lead the rebuild.
Our View
This all feels worryingly familiar. The hesitation, the private talks, the names being floated, the manager left waiting for a call that may or may not come. It creates an atmosphere of drift, and that has been part of the problem for too long. If the club truly believes Carrick cannot turn things around, then dragging it out only deepens the uncertainty for everyone.
At the same time, there is a nagging sense that changing the head coach alone never solves everything at Manchester United. “Season in a tailspin” is a brutal phrase, but it rings true because the issues often look bigger than one man. Recruitment, structure, authority, messaging, all of it has to align. A new appointment only matters if the people above him are clear and united.
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are serious names. Either would signal ambition. Yet there is still caution around whether the club has the stability to give any coach the platform needed. That is the uncomfortable part. Excitement over a possible successor quickly gives way to the same old doubt about whether the environment is actually built for success.
The best outcome now would be clarity. Make the decision, explain it properly, and show there is a real plan behind it. Without that, it risks becoming another change that feels big in the moment and hollow a few months later.
Source: Telegraph
