Man Utd decide on Michael Carrick as they reveal Jason Wilcox’s top pick to take over
Manchester United have decided to stick with Michael Carrick as their manager for the upcoming Champions League match against Roma, even though Jason Wilcox has suggested a new replacement.
The team has slipped to 17th place in the Premier League after a 2-0 loss to Chelsea on Saturday. The Red Devils have now gone nine games without a win, marking their worst start to a season since 1988. Their last win was back in September against Sabah in the Champions League.
After losing 3-0 to Bournemouth, many thought Carrick might be let go. But after talks between director of football Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada at Carrington, it was decided Carrick will stay on for now.
Despite the Chelsea loss leaving United just above the relegation zone on goal difference, Jamie Jackson from The Guardian reported that Carrick is expected to manage the team again for Tuesday’s game against Roma at Old Trafford. He will likely continue until the next international break after their match against Aston Villa on November 8.
The club will rethink the situation after those games. Wilcox already has Eddie Howe as his top pick if there’s a change. Howe, who left Newcastle before this season started, is said to be interested in managing United, with contact already made.
Another strong candidate is Julian Nagelsmann, who previously worked with United’s director of recruitment Christopher Vivell at RB Leipzig.
If hired, Howe would need a compensation fee of about £3 million because of his exit from Newcastle.
Interestingly, Howe was recommended to United two years ago by then-sporting director Dan Ashworth as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag when he was let go in October 2024.
At that time, Ashworth suggested managers with Premier League experience like Howe, Marco Silva, Thomas Frank, and Graham Potter. However, United chose Ruben Amorim instead, in a process Ashworth wasn’t much involved in. Ashworth left after just five months, with disagreements partly causing the split with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
United had paid £3 million to bring Ashworth from Newcastle, where he worked with Howe. His early departure reportedly cost the club £1.1 million in severance.
Although going after Howe now might feel like going back in time, there’s still quiet hope that Carrick can turn things around for the team.