Manchester United Set to Appoint New Manager After Reaching Agreement With Main Candidate

Manchester United are expected to announce Michael Carrick as their new interim manager by Wednesday, with talks progressing for the former midfielder to take charge until the end of the season.

The club has been actively searching for a temporary replacement following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. While former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Darren Fletcher were also considered for the role, Carrick has emerged as the frontrunner to lead the team.

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Multiple reports on Monday indicated that an agreement for Carrick's return to the Old Trafford dugout is nearing completion. This would mark his second stint in a managerial capacity, following a brief three-game spell as caretaker in late 2021.

Sources suggest the club is working within a 48-hour window for the announcement. An ideal scenario would see Carrick leading his first training session on Wednesday, as the squad returns from a two-day break after their FA Cup defeat to Brighton.

Final negotiations are reportedly focused on assembling Carrick's backroom staff. According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Carrick has "accepted all conditions" of the contract offered by the club, with the deal expected to be finalised this week.

Following the loss to Brighton, Darren Fletcher, who was also in the running for the interim job, highlighted the squad's low confidence as a major hurdle for the incoming manager. He also noted that the players may need time to adapt from the 3-4-3 formation used under Ruben Amorim.

"Confidence and potentially being used to playing a certain style and formation that's difficult to adapt from," Fletcher told TNT Sports. "But the players have just got to come together. The biggest thing for me is that the group, the players, whoever leads them comes together."

Fletcher stressed the importance of unity and resilience in turning the team's fortunes around.

"It's only them in the situation, it's only them that can do something about it, build the confidence through grinding out maybe some results," he added.

"You want to play nice football but you've got to find a way to win first and, once you do that, hard work, attitude, application. It might not be pretty at times but from there you can grow and build and then fast, exciting football can come."