Michael Carrick emerges favourite for Man United’s caretaker role

Michael Carrick has emerged as the favourite to become Manchester United’s interim manager until the end of the season.

Club chiefs are hoping to have an appointment in place for when players return to training on Wednesday.

While a final decision is yet to be reached, talks are said to have progressed with the former United midiefler over the position.

Carrick previously had a three-game stint as United’s temporary boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021.

He won two and drew one of those matches, but left after Ralf Rangnick’s arrival as interim manager.

Solskjaer held face-to-face discussions with the club on Saturday about a return.

United sacked Ruben Amorim as manager after 14 months in the job on 5 January.

Darren Fletcher, a former United and Scotland midfielder, was initially handed temporary responsibility for first-team affairs following Amorim’s departure.

United suffered an FA Cup third-round defeat at the hands of Brighton on Sunday in what looks set to be Fletcher’s second and final game in charge.