Manchester United chiefs are set to formally recommend Michael Carrick be offered the permanent job at Old Trafford next week.
Carrick took the reins following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January, returning to the club where he spent 12 years as a player and a previous stint as interim boss in 2021.
Under his guidance, United have secured qualification for next season’s Champions League and are closing in on a third place finish behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
Carrick has led the club to victory in 10 of this 15 games in charge, losing twice in that run to leave him well-positioned to carry on next season.
United officials will gather for an executive committee meeting next week with various reports now confirming chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are in agreement Carrick is the right candidate to lead United forward.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will make the final decision with Berrada and Wilcox ready to officially put forward his name.
There is also a growing expectation among the players and staff at Carrington that Carrick will remain at the helm.
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United have considered a number of candidates with Andoni Iraola among those in the frame having announced his decision to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.
Oliver Glasner, who will part ways with Crystal Palace this summer, was also in the running.
But Carrick’s immediate impact on the players, many of who were languishing under Amorim, appears to have sealed the deal.
Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are among the United stars to have endorsed the former midfielder.
‘He deserves to stay,’ Casemiro said in an interview with Rio Ferdinand this week. ‘The team plays very good. He will win any games. The team improves day by day. Game by game the team improves.
Mainoo, frozen out of the team by Amorim, has been key to United’s improved form with the England international telling Sky Sports after his winner against Liverpool: ‘We want to follow him. We want to die for him on the pitch.
‘He wants us to fight, and we did that today. His confidence in not just me, but all the players – it’s huge.’