CONFIRMED: The 44-year-old coach opens the door to lead Manchester United

A close source reveals the top candidate for the head coach position at Manchester United, as the team stands before a major opportunity to secure a Champions League spot next season.

The reputable journalist David Ornstein recently disclosed that Manchester United has completed the evaluation process for candidates for the head coach position, though no formal interviews have been conducted yet. According to him, sports director Jason Wilcox is leading this process and will present the final proposal to the board. At this moment, Michael Carrick is considered the most promising candidate, even holding a significant advantage in the race.

This information further makes the future of the coaching bench at Old Trafford a focal point of attention, as the team faces a pivotal decision ahead of the summer transfer window. The head coach position has remained vacant since Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January, and Carrick has temporarily assumed this role.

Under the guidance of the 44-year-old coach, Manchester United quickly showed improvement with 7 wins out of 11 matches, thereby climbing to third place in the Premier League standings. Notably, consecutive victories against Manchester City and Arsenal have strongly boosted Carrick's credentials, with the performance against Manchester City being rated as one of the team's best matches this season.

However, recent form has somewhat dampened the excitement as the "Red Devils" lost 2 of their last 4 matches. This forces the board to consider more carefully before making the final decision.

Meanwhile, other options in the market are gradually narrowing. Thomas Tuchel has extended his contract with the England national team, Carlo Ancelotti is likely to continue with the Brazil national team after the World Cup, and Julian Nagelsmann remains focused on his project with the Germany national team. This opens up a greater opportunity for Carrick.

Despite being in a favorable position, Carrick still needs more convincing results to turn the opportunity into reality. A position in the top five, which means securing a Champions League spot, is almost a mandatory requirement. But if he can help Manchester United finish the season in third place, that would be the strongest affirmation of his capabilities and the perfect stepping stone to officially take the long-term head coach seat at Old Trafford.