Man Utd drop biggest hint on Michael Carrick future yet as 'transfer talks emerge'

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick is under contract until the end of the season at Old Trafford and the club may have dropped a hint on their plans for head coach

Michael Carrick is involved in Manchester United's summer transfer plans, in perhaps the biggest hint yet that the club sees a future with him. The former midfielder replaced Ruben Amorim in January and has impressed in his time at the club.

Crucially, Carrick signed a deal until the end of the season but was announced as the club's 'head coach' without any caveat or an interim label. Nevertheless, it was clear he had a matter of months to convince the hierarchy that he was the correct person to take the club forward.

According to The Telegraph, Carrick is among a number of figures with input to the recruitment team of Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell as they move to sign a central midfielder this summer. There is interest in the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton, among others.

Carrick also confirmed that he was involved in the decision that saw Harry Maguire's stay at Old Trafford extended for another year. “Certainly, in the role I’m in, there’s decisions that need taking care of. I said it as soon as I came here – I’m part of that and whatever that looks like moving forward, I’m part of that," he said.

From the outset, club icons such as Gary Neville and Roy Keane suggested that United should look elsewhere for a more permanent appointment with greater experience. Carrick's influence would suggest the club might not be so quick to have their head turned.

United are well-placed to secure Champions League football and are third in the Premier League. Seven wins, two draws, and a single defeat since his arrival have provided a seven-point gap to sixth place, with Carrick's team holding a game in hand.

The ex-Middlesbrough boss guided his squad through a four-day training camp in the Republic of Ireland last week, and appears to have the support of his squad. Amad and Bryan Mbeumo advocated for their head coach during a press conference, and Carrick has spoken about the backing from his players.

"I think the most important thing for me about all that is that we're all pulling in the same direction," he said.

"Whatever's said is going to be said, but I think the feeling, the willingness to do things together and to be positive, to be in a good place where we're positive and hopefully winning games, for me, that's the biggest thing really. After that, things will get solved in one way or another.

"I think it's nice for the boys to feel so positive and be in a good frame of mind that they're enjoying the football. Obviously, we want that to continue as much as possible."

Amad had labelled Carrick the 'right man'. "He's been very great," said the attacker.

"He's been doing so much for the team, he has a lot of experience, and he knows the club, so we think he's the right man, but we are really happy for what he's doing right now."

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Captain Bruno Fernandes ' focus is on more than the end of the season and he wants to see the club's form under Carrick become a full season of consistency to find success

“If we finish the way we want to finish, it’s going to look very good, but it’s still not the picture we want,” Fernandes said. “[Can we] be the team we’ve been in this spell, but for a full season? Because anyone can be good in spells. Being good in the whole season is much more difficult.

“That’s something we haven’t done since I’m here. We need that consistency. In a full league, every point matters. Every small detail will make a difference.”