United in Crisis Mode as Iraola Eyes Bilbao Escape Route

Manchester United have called an urgent gathering of club officials to thrash out their plans for next season's manager, even as one of their prime targets appears to be slipping away.

Michael Carrick has done himself no favours in the race for the job by, well, actually doing rather well. Seven wins from nine Premier League outings as interim boss have hauled United up to third and set tongues wagging about making the arrangement permanent. The Champions League dream is back on, and supporters are increasingly vocal about keeping their man.

Yet the Old Trafford brass are clearly not ready to commit just yet. Reports suggest they've shortlisted five leading candidates for the hot seat: Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, Unai Emery, Roberto De Zerbi and Julian Nagelsmann. De Zerbi is a free agent and available immediately, while both Iraola and Glasner see their current deals expire at season's end. Nagelsmann could return to club football after his World Cup duties with Germany conclude, while Emery may feel his work at Aston Villa is complete.

The problem? Iraola is proving rather difficult to pin down. The Bournemouth manager is weighing up a move to Athletic Bilbao, where he spent over 400 games as a player. With Ernesto Valverde stepping aside, the Basque club's vacancy has caught his eye in a big way. He's due to inform Bournemouth by the end of the international break whether he intends to sign fresh terms or pursue the opportunity at San Mamés.

Bournemouth thought they'd strengthened their hand by adding Brazilian winger Rayan in January, but the Athletic job holds considerable appeal for Iraola. United will have to look elsewhere if their man heads back to his spiritual home.

An emergency summit was convened today to plot the way forward—stay tuned for developments.