Ciaran Morrison

Sun 12 April 2026 8:30, UK

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Michael Carrick will face competition from Julian Nagelsmann to become the next permanent manager of Manchester United.

That is what Keith Wyness has heard as the former Everton chief executive, talking to Football Insider, rules Mauricio Pochettino out of the running.

Carrick is deemed the favourite for the role thanks to his successful spell in charge as interim boss, with the Red Devils on course to qualify for the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Nagelsmann has experience at Bayern Munich and is currently in charge of the German national team, and is set to lead them at this summer’s World Cup.

Man United are not rushing into their next managerial decision, with the club expected to announce Ruben Amorim’s permanent successor at the end of the season.

Man United have ‘problem’ if they don’t appoint Michael Carrick

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes rumours of Pochettino to Man United is a “red herring.”

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that the race is between Carrick and Nagelsmann, with the former the current “favourite.”

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “When I looked into it a bit further, the Pochettino contract actually goes into August after the World Cup. 

“There’s 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’t see it happening.

“United want to get somebody there, and I think it’s either going to be Carrick or Nagelsmann. That’s what I’m hearing. Those are the two options.  

“Carrick has got to be the favourite, he’s doing well. We all know that, and there’d be a real problem with the fans if he didn’t get the job, if they qualify for the Champions League, which it looks like they got a very good chance of doing. 

“It’s those two names. 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. 

“They’re trying to set the scene that there’s other people they can go to. But it’s a two-horse race, which is where it stands from my point of view.” 

Man United looking to cash in on Joshua Zirkzee

Joshua Zirkzee is one player who is unlikely to remain at Old Trafford no matter who becomes the next manager of the club.

Alongside Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia, Man United will be looking to offload Zirkzee to boost their transfer kitty.

However, former chief scout at Old Trafford Mick Brown told Football Insider that Man United need to source a replacement before allowing Zirkzee to leave.

The Red Devils are expected to have a busy transfer window, whilst Champions League football could further their ambitions in the market.