Ratcliffe Eyes Southgate for United Hotseat as Carrick Keeps Cards Close

Manchester United's co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made his managerial preferences known, and they don't necessarily align with continuing Michael Carrick's impressive interim tenure at Old Trafford.

Having taken the reins in January, Carrick has overseen a remarkable turnaround that's put United within touching distance of Champions League football. The club currently occupy third spot in the Premier League table, and barring a dramatic collapse, they look set to finish the 2025/26 campaign there.

Yet despite Carrick's undeniable success, Ratcliffe has his eye on a different target. The INEOS supremo is reportedly keen to consider Gareth Southgate as a serious candidate for the permanent position, with the 55-year-old having become available after stepping down as England manager last July following the Three Lions' Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Ratcliffe is understood to be a genuine admirer of Southgate, viewing the former Middlesbrough boss's profile as a natural fit for the demands of managing at Old Trafford. Southgate's track record speaks for itself: semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup, a Euro 2020 final appearance, and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals with England all demonstrate his credentials at the highest level.

Interestingly, Southgate himself has expressed admiration for Carrick, the pair meeting at Carrington this week. However, Carrick's long-term future at the club remains far from guaranteed despite his current status as the leading contender.

As for Carrick himself, he's adopting a characteristically measured approach to the uncertainty. "In terms of deadline, it's not something I'm really chasing," the interim manager said this week. "It will become clear when it becomes clear."

He elaborated on his contentment with the current situation: "I enjoy being here. I love being here. It's a real privilege to be in the position I am, but thriving with the responsibility that we've got."

Carrick acknowledged the squad's progress whilst emphasising there remains work to do. "We've had some good results and we're in decent shape. There's a lot to go, we still want to keep improving. There are layers that we want to get to."

The message is clear: Carrick's not losing sleep over his future just yet, though Ratcliffe's apparent admiration for Southgate suggests the final decision on who leads United forward could prove more complicated than many assumed.