Michael Carrick is adamant he ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to becoming the next Manchester United manager, after it was reported that the 44-year-old now has to battle off just one other contender to take the job on a full-time basis.<\/p>\n
The Red Devils have made remarkable strides since Carrick was appointed interim boss in January following Ruben Amorim\u2019s dismissal, rising to third in the Premier League and strong contenders to secure Champions League football for next season. Indeed, ahead of Monday night\u2019s clash against old rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford, Manchester United<\/a> have won seven of his 10 games in charge, giving him an impressive 70% win percentage record and having suffered just one loss in 10 games.<\/p>\n While it has been well over three weeks since their last game, Carrick<\/a> has taken his players away on a mid-season training camp to Dublin, and the 44-year-old now believes he knows exactly what it takes to become the manager permanently.<\/p>\n Speaking to Sky Sports<\/a>, Carrick said: \u201cThere are parts of [what comes with being Manchester United manager] \u2013 and I am not being blas\u00e9 when I say it \u2013 that I have known for so long.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pressure is something I have lived with for a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s expected here, how to go about achieving things, the amount of support we have, and the scrutiny is something that becomes normal after a while.<\/p>\n \u201cIt does not feel as big as it probably looks from the outside for me personally.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if he would like some clarity on his own future, Carrick says: \u201cI understand the situation, and where we were at when we came back in January, the plan for the rest of the season and the possibilities in the summer. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s changed.<\/p>\n \u201cThings will get sorted when they get sorted. For me, it\u2019s just about doing the best job that we can and plan for the future and the good of the club and the players in the squad. I am not coming to get through to the end of the season and deal with what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s important we make a plan and follow that through for the squad to get stronger. If I am part of it, then I am part of it. If not, then that is the situation I walked into.\u201d<\/p>\n While that is as close to a public pitch for the permanent job as Carrick is ever likely to make, TEAMtalk sources have long made it clear that the former Middlesbrough boss is firmly on course to become the next permanent head coach at United, and while a final decision will not be made until the end of the season, club bosses have at least opted against pursuing talks with two world-class coaches<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite ignoring the credentials of two leading Spaniards, new reports claim there is another contender still in the mix to pip Carrick to the role\u2026.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Man Utd, Luis Enrique \u2018truth\u2019 confirmed by Fabrizio Romano as deal \u2018advances\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Next Manchester United manager: Carrick battling one major rival for job<\/p>\n Indeed, former Everton CEO Keith Wyness \u2013 who is still well-connected in the Premier League \u2013 insists that only one man can prevent Carrick taking the job full-time this summer.<\/p>\n And he is \u201chearing\u201d that United are \u201ceither going\u201d for Carrick or Germany national team coach Julian Nagelsmann as their next permanent boss.<\/p>\n Wyness told\u00a0Football Insider<\/a>: \u201cWhen I looked into it a bit further, the Pochettino contract actually goes into August after the World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s about three or four weeks of wrap-up time, so there would have to be some sort of settlement with the US team to be able to make that happen. I don\u2019t see it happening.<\/p>\n \u201cUnited want to get somebody there, and I think it\u2019s either going to be Carrick or Nagelsmann. That\u2019s what I\u2019m hearing. Those are the two options.<\/p>\n \u201cCarrick has got to be the favourite, he\u2019s doing well. We all know that, and there\u2019d be a real problem with the fans if he didn\u2019t get the job, if they qualify for the Champions League, which it looks like they got a very good chance of doing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s those two names. [Mauricio] Pochettino is a bit of a red herring, and it could be United trying to find some sort of alternative rumour out there to negotiate with somebody like a Nagelsmann.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re trying to set the scene that there\u2019s other people they can go to. But it\u2019s a two-horse race, which is where it stands from my point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n Man Utd latest: Red Devils keen on Champ wonderkid; Elliot Anderson hope<\/p>\n With regards the dismissal of Amorim, the club\u2019s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has made a rather surprising admission on the Portuguese coach<\/a> that will leave many supporters scratching their heads.<\/p>\n On the transfer front, TEAMtalk is aware that United are one of a number of Premier League clubs that want to make a move for a super-talented 16-year-old Championship star<\/a>, who already has one goal and two assists to his name despite his tender years.<\/p>\n And sources can reveal the Red Devils are one of three major sides all looking to sign the teenager to professional terms when the player in question turns 17 later in July.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Manchester United hope to use a \u2018secret weapon\u2019 to win the Elliot Anderson transfer race<\/a> as Carrick also demands a second \u00a3100m signing this summer, per a report.<\/p>\n