Michael Carrick has not been offered a long-term contract to remain at Manchester United yet and former Old Trafford defender Jaap Stam believes he has earned one after guiding the club to Champions League qualification
Manchester United risk Michael Carrick entering discussions with rival clubs if they delay any further in handing him a permanent role at Old Trafford, according to former defender Jaap Stam.
Carrick has just two more United fixtures remaining on his contract after guiding the side back into Champions League qualification, having taken over from Ruben Amorim earlier this year. The ex-Middlesbrough manager has earned widespread praise for his work, with the club poised to secure third place in the Premier League, 12 months after finishing 15th.
The 44-year-old was brought in until the end of the campaign, but his future remains unclear, and no United manager has been confirmed for the summer. For his part, Carrick has maintained he is relaxed about the uncertainty over his position.
Stam believes the time is approaching when Carrick will want to map out his summer plans, whether that involves United or another club. The Dutch giant feels the former midfielder has done more than enough to warrant a contract at the Theatre of Dreams.
"He's had a great spell now, he's done very well, so I think you need to do that [give him the contract]," Stam said via ComeOn. "I cannot imagine there are no talks going on now or starting because if he wants to go on as a manager, he needs to have a look at other clubs now himself if he wants to change that somewhere else, if he wants to bring in players somewhere else.
"So this is the time to make decisions, and after this success by getting into the Champions League, I can't imagine not talking to him now and saying, 'OK, we want to go and give you a contract for maybe for the next season or the next two seasons and see how it goes.'
"And there is always talk with fans, or people are always saying when they're not successful, 'OK, then it's the lack of experience or he's too young or we should have brought in this manager.'
"But he knows the club very well. And I think it's very positive that he knows what happened before, maybe the new owners came in, and how the club needs to be run and what needs to be done and what the feeling is as a United manager or as a United player.
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"He can bring that feeling to the players, and I think that's already what he's been doing. And together with great people on the board, people who are very committed and want to make changes, I think you can help a young manager like him in making that next step or to become very successful for the club."
United have been amongst several clubs reported to be interested in securing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. The Spanish boss has already announced he will depart from the Cherries when the season concludes.
For now, he is declining to discuss speculation surrounding his next destination. "I'm in no rush," Iraola said.
"I will not talk about my future. I'm fully focused on trying to finish this season with a reward, something tangible for the [Bournemouth] players and supporters." He added: "It was not an easy decision [to leave] but once it is made you feel relief.
"I feel we have used it in a positive way. Since that day, we've had great results but also the mood.
"Everyone is clear, the relationship is so clean and honest. Okay, this is going to happen, next season Marco Rose will be our manager. Everyone knows what's happening. We are in good place and can use this in a positive way."