Steve McClaren gives Carrick clear blueprint to land Man United job

Heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures, United sit in third place, level on points with Aston Villa. United appear to be firmly on course to secure Champions League football. But a report covered by The Peoples Person earlier this week revealed that club chiefs are still unsure about Carrick, especially after the chastening 2-1 defeat at the hands of Leeds United.

The Red Devils were second best for large parts of the game, having endured a 24-day layoff from their previous outing. The Athletic have fuelled this speculation further, suggesting that Carrick’s character might not mesh well with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. According to the newspaper, while many players would love for Carrick to stay, the former midfielder’s personality is not what Ratcliffe would typically opt for.

The INEOS billionaire is said to favour “alpha” characters like Amorim, who can challenge him. It’s understood that a number of candidates are being considered at Old Trafford, but all come with their own distinct challenges. Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti for instance are set to lead England and Brazil respectively at this summer’s World Cup.

Tuchel put pen to paper on a contract extension with England, while Ancelotti is thought to be close to agreeing terms over an extended tenure. Then there is Andoni Iraola, whose Bournemouth exit was recently confirmed. While he is poised to be available, the step up from the Vitality Stadium to United is considered too steep.