Man Utd set for Michael Carrick talks after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer manager twist

Manchester United is set to hold fresh talks over its next interim manager, with Michael Carrick edging closer to current favorite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Wednesday's draw at Burnley

Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are in the running for the Manchester United job(Image: Getty Images)

Manchester United is poised for another round of discussions to determine its next interim manager, with Michael Carrick inching closer to current frontrunner Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Red Devils have chosen to appoint a caretaker for the rest of the season before settling on a permanent successor to Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach was given his marching orders on Monday after managing just three victories in 11 matches, but the decision largely stemmed from a disagreement with the club's director of soccer, Jason Wilcox.

U18s coach Darren Fletcher took the reins for Wednesday's disheartening 2-2 draw away at Burnley and will continue to lead when United welcomes Brighton for the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

By that time, it's anticipated that both Carrick and Solskjaer will have been interviewed face-to-face by Wilcox and United CEO Omar Berrada.

According to The Guardian, although Solskjaer remains the slight favorite, Carrick made significant strides on Wednesday.

If Wilcox and Berrada opt for Solskjaer, it's believed that Carrick would contemplate reprising his role as assistant. Carrick served under Solskjaer during the Norwegian's tenure at the helm of the Red Devils from December 2018 to November 2021.

The five-time Premier League champion was already part of United's first-team coaching staff when Solskjaer stepped in, initially on a temporary basis, following Jose Mourinho's dismissal. The pair were also teammates at United for the 2006-07 season.

Carrick was Solskjaer's assistant at Old Trafford(Image: Getty Images)

Both of their names echoed from the away end at Turf Moor, yet some pundits have expressed doubts about the club's decision to once again turn to a former player.

Speaking to Sky Sports, ex-United skipper Gary Neville said: "You almost go through cycles whereby, and United have done this for 12 years now.

"They put Ryan [Giggs] in charge ten years ago, then Ole took charge, and you go back to the old boys. Then you go for a new one, then you go for one more - it's almost like a cycle and a movie that we've all seen before, and Groundhog Day.

"Look, what I do think, Ole is someone that absolutely loves the club. He knows the job; he's been in the job.

"The other names that are being mentioned, obviously, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"These are really fantastic people; I played with those guys for a lot of years; they love the club intensely. They get the club. But still, they're going to come under a lot of pressure in the next four or five months if results don't go their way.

"So look, they have to be ready for that... Whoever's going to get it, out of those three that are being mentioned, I wish them all the best because it's a tough role."