Despite an encouraging few months at Manchester United Football Club, there is still uncertainty at the moment.
The Red Devils are going through a big period on and off the pitch, with several situations that urgently need to be resolved ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Work is already being done behind the scenes to strengthen the squad, which could help improve the club’s chances of returning to Premier League glory.
However, there is still no answer as to who will be in charge of the Red Devils next season, with caretaker manager Michael Carrick remaining at Old Trafford until the end of the season.
News has emerged in recent days surrounding the search for a new permanent manager, and the coming weeks could be crucial for the 44-year-old’s long-term future in Manchester.
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Former United star Carrick was handed the reins on an interim basis following Ruben Amorim’s departure in January and has done an excellent job in recent weeks.
He has now won seven of his first 10 games in charge in Manchester, and his impressive form has lifted the Red Devils into third place and boosted their chances of qualifying for the Champions League in 2026/27.
It remains to be seen whether the 44-year-old will be offered the full-time job this summer, but first-team star Amad Diallo has already said he wants Carrick to remain in the role.
But regardless of the support from current players, the board has been working elsewhere in recent weeks, leading towards Xabi Alonso as manager.
According to FootballTransfers, the Red Devils’ board has been in touch with the Spanish international about a possible move for the player, who was released by Real Madrid in January.
Reports also say the 44-year-old is considering a job in the Premier League, which could only add to United’s attempts to secure his appointment this summer.
However, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City also keen to appoint him, they will need to act quickly to land the former Bayer Leverkusen manager.
Why Alonso is United’s Klopp player
It’s painful enough that United haven’t won a Premier League trophy in 13 years, but seeing rivals Liverpool flourish in that time only makes things worse for their fan base.
Jurgen Klopp was the man who put the Merseyside side back on the map, turning them into serious contenders for the Premier League and Champions League.
The German won each of the aforementioned competitions once during his nine years at Anfield, and also managed to avoid defeat in 77% of his matches against the Red Devils.
His success at Liverpool has no doubt made United fans wish they had a manager of the 58-year-old’s caliber, especially given his own struggles in recent seasons.
But despite Carrick’s impact in recent weeks, the bosses should look to sign Alonso instead this summer, with the Spaniard potentially becoming their own version of Klopp.
He could emulate the German, who previously starred in the Bundesliga and won both divisions with Borussia Dortmund and Leverkusen before moving to the Premier League.
Just like when Klopp arrived, the Red Devils are in need of a reset and fresh ideas, and the free agent manager could make the club a dominant force again.
While his recent stay in Madrid may have been short, allowing him to achieve a 71% win rate at the Bernabéu, his success at the BayArena had nothing to do with it.
Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
game | 140 |
victory | 89 |
draw | 32 |
defeat | 19 |
Number of points | 315 |
Number of goals conceded | 155 |
Points per game | 2.14 |
Alonso won the Bundesliga for the first time in Leverkusen’s history, remaining invincible and avoiding defeat in all 34 league games.
His ability to win title glory will no doubt be a big factor in negotiations with United in recent weeks, and his appointment could see the club look to end their drought.
Fans have been hungry for consistent success at Old Trafford over the past decade, and Alonso is perhaps the best person to take the reins ahead of next season.
Considering the influence of English players, using a Spaniard over Carrick could be a controversial decision, but if the former Leverkusen manager is appointed, the club will have a back-to-back champions.
He has already shown in his short managerial career that he is capable of winning despite adversity, and United fans will be hoping for that soon.
If he moves to the Premier League and can have a similar impact to Klopp in England’s top flight, there is no reason why the Red Devils cannot become a force to be reckoned with once again.
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