Michael Carrick could be handed the perfect start to his permanent tenure at Manchester United if the club completes the £69 million acquisition of Sporting CP's Maxi Araujo. The former club captain is in negotiations to continue managing at Old Trafford, with a two-year deal expected to be announced imminently.
Carrick's Transfer Ambitions
What Carrick will require in the summer is backing by the United hierarchy, with last year's signings proving their worth over the season. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have impressed in front of goal, with Senne Lammens also showcasing his talent between the sticks.
The United board can continue this run of good form in the transfer window by securing a long-term replacement for the battling Luke Shaw. The veteran defender scored the team's first goal in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon and is expected to remain a big part of the team next season - even if he does not start every game.
Araujo's Profile and Interest
Araujo could be the man to take over the role of left-back at United. According to reports in Portugal, the club registered an interest in the 26-year-old earlier in May and have made contact with his representatives regarding a potential deal.
The Sporting CP star has been thriving in Liga Portugal since arriving at the club two years ago. He has scored 11 goals and provided 13 assists in 91 appearances.
Other clubs are reportedly keen on Araujo, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Juventus and Atletico Madrid. Araujo has already expressed an interest in playing in the Premier League in future, although it would be for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Connection to Ruben Amorim
The full-back admitted his desire to work under Guardiola after Sporting defeated City 4-1 in the Champions League, with current Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres netting a hat-trick for the Portuguese side in 2024.
When asked if he would like to join the Spaniard's team in the future, Araujo said: "I hope so, I hope so... I asked him for a photo, we talked for a few minutes and he congratulated me. I am very happy about that. We talked about the game, nothing more."
Despite this wish to play for United's rivals, Araujo has another link to the club in the form of ex-manager Ruben Amorim. The pair worked together in Amorim's final months before his transfer to Manchester and had plenty of praise for his former boss.
Discussing his personal bond with the 41-year-old, Araujo said: "For me too, because at all times, in the short time I worked with him, it was incredible, I had an incredible vibe with him. He was always in a good mood. He is a great coach and I loved working with him. Because both those who played and those who did not were all focused on the same goal. And I think that, sometimes, is not something so easy to achieve in big teams. Things do not always happen that way."
Release Clause and Future
This season, the 26-year-old has made 45 appearances for Sporting, scoring seven goals and assisting five more. The £69m release clause placed by his current club could be a sticking point for United, but Carrick will expect backing from the hierarchy this summer and beyond in order to bring more success to Old Trafford.
