Manchester United have begun planning for next season, with pre-season friendlies reportedly arranged in Helsinki and Gothenburg. The club has shelved its traditional tour of the United States due to the 2026 World Cup being hosted there, along with Mexico and Canada.
The fixtures could offer the new permanent manager his first chance to assess the squad. United are currently searching for a successor to interim boss Michael Carrick, who has impressed since taking over earlier this month with wins against Manchester City and Arsenal. However, the club still intends to appoint a new manager for the 2026/27 campaign.
Scandinavia is a familiar destination for United, having faced Leeds United there last pre-season and Galatasaray in Gothenburg in 2016. Talks are believed to be near completion for the upcoming friendlies.
Meanwhile, Carrick remains focused on the current season, with United sitting fourth in the Premier League ahead of a clash with Fulham. He said: "I'm enjoying it. It's a fantastic position to be in. What happens next: I'm not going to be answering it every week."
Defender Harry Maguire praised Carrick's impact, stating: "Michael's come in, he's been brilliant with us, he's brought a fresh energy, the group's really galvanised." Among the high-profile names linked with the permanent role are Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, and Carlo Ancelotti.
