Manchester United caretaker manager Michael Carrick has impressed so well at Old Trafford that he will be allowed to influence the club’s transfer plans this month.
Carrick receives praise after derby win
Manager Roy Keane admitted he had to give Michael Carrick “credit where credit is due” after previously saying he had concerns about the appointment after Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Manchester City.
Carrick briefly took over as caretaker manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjær was sacked in November 2021, and made a strong start to his second start against Manchester City thanks to goals from Brian Mbeumo and Patrick Dorg.
Keane acknowledged Carrick’s achievements but said he would be judged on his performances over the coming months.
He told Sky Sports: “There’s a lot to be admired, but it’s really great. Let’s take the next few months and judge.”
“The important thing now is to give this team momentum. We have to have faith and focus on the league without other distractions. We know we have quality players.”
“They are not consistent enough. Today they got a clean sheet, they have two centre-halves and experienced players, they can form a partnership and stay injury-free and all that could fall into place.”
“The players coming off the bench are making an impact. We did well today, but we’ll see what happens in the next few months.”
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The caretaker manager insists he is not concerned about criticism from former players in the media, and it appears his fresh perspective on the role has had an impact on INEOS, who are currently considering entering the transfer market and have reportedly told Ruben Amorim they will not sign a new contract this month.
Romano reveals Old Trafford transfer meeting
Fabrizio Romano claimed on his YouTube channel on Sunday night that INEOS will hold a meeting with Carrick within the next few hours (which likely means Monday) to discuss the transfer.
“I want to mention something about Manchester United because there will be an internal meeting at Manchester United in the next few hours, early this week, and it will also include Michael Carrick’s thoughts.”
“It’s not going to be decided by Michael Carrick, it’s going to be Michael Carrick who started the Manchester United chapter in great fashion by winning the Manchester derby, showing very good energy and very good football.
“But at the same time, Carrick will be involved in discussions with Man United to decide on some of the circumstances and what they want to do on the market between now and the end of the January transfer window.
“If they want to buy a player opportunistically, maybe midfield, maybe another position, maybe a striker. So they need to evaluate Michael Carrick and make a decision, or they need to continue with their current squad and invest in the summer.”
The Red Devils have been linked with a number of midfielders, most of whom are likely to join in the summer, but one target who could move this month is Ruben Neves, who boasts Premier League experience and is likely to be available for around £20m.
