Michael Carrick is expected to be let go by Manchester United later this week, with Unai Emery emerging as a potential successor at Old Trafford. However, Emery is expected to sign a new deal with Aston Villa, despite recent links with United.
Emery's Success at Villa
The Spaniard has thrived with the Villans since 2022, consistently guiding the club to top six finishes in the Premier League and challenging under the bright lights of Europe. Villa also clinched the Europa League title under Emery's tutelage last term and have managed to hold their own in the Champions League this season thus far.
For these reasons, many fans and pundits alike consider the 55-year-old to be the ideal successor to Carrick, who is feeling the heat of the United hotseat at present.
Carrick's Difficult Season
Having been awarded a two-year contract with the club this summer off the back of a whirlwind interim tenure between January and May, 2026/27 has been largely unkind to Carrick. United have managed just one win from their opening 10 Premier League matches and sit 18th in the standings as a result - their worst start to a season in 40 years.
The Champions League has been similarly brutal to the Reds. Despite kick-starting their campaign with a 4-0 rout of Sabah, losses to Atletico Madrid and Como stopped momentum dead in its tracks. While a 10-man United were able to secure a 3-2 win over Roma in their most-recent run out under the bright lights of Europe, they still languish 17th in the UCL standings after four games played.
Decision Timeline and Succession Plans
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to see a formal presentation from Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada on Wednesday at a senior Ineos meeting in Monaco before making his decision. That will leave the top brass of Old Trafford with a little under two weeks to source a viable replacement for the 45-year-old, with a number of names linked with the job.
Emery is thought to be one of the favourites to take up tenure in Greater Manchester, alongside the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann. However, as per the Telegraph, the Hondarribia-born tactician will be staying in the Midlands.
Emery's Contract Talks and United's Alternatives
The publication say that Emery is involved in ongoing talks with Villa chairman, Nassef Sawiris, with a view to extending his stay in the coming weeks. It means that United will have to look elsewhere for a proven head coach to take over from Carrick.
Thankfully, the club have the best part of the November international break to do so, with United not featuring now in a competitive realm until November 22, when they make the short trip to Anfield to take on bitter rivals Liverpool.
While Pochettino is thought to be the frontrunner for the role, luring the Argentine to the north west may not be a simple procedure. The 54-year-old is currently contracted with the United States national team until 2030. While Poch is understood to have a $10million (£7.4m) release clause in his current contract, United will also have to splash a fee of around £3m in severance pay to hand Carrick his marching orders. That would take the total firing and hiring cost to more than £10m, and that's before agreeing on a salary for Pochettino which will likely cost the club millions more in an era in which Ratcliffe is dedicated to cutting costs across the board.
