Ex-PL CEO: Carrick should have been handed three-year Man United deal

Manchester United’s owners should have backed Michael Carrick further by giving him a three-year deal to stay on as manager.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, as Carrick is expected to become Man United’s next permanent manager.

The 44-year-old is expected to sign a two-year deal with an option of a further year after impressing the hierarchy during his spell as interim boss.

Carrick arrived at Old Trafford in January following the reign of Ruben Amorim and has led Man United to a third-placed Premier League finish this season.

Man United are expected to announce Carrick as manager before their final game of the season at Brighton.

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Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Carrick will be in a “strong position” when it comes to agreeing a new contract in the future.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the Man United squad played their part in getting Carrick appointed.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “We’ve been saying for weeks now that Carrick would probably get this.

“He’s secured Champions League football pretty early. The squad have responded very well to him, and they’ve said it publicly, which is obviously a big bonus for him. That’s what’s put Jim Ratcliffe in a very difficult position.

“Two years it may end up as. I believe that Carrick is going to do well with United next year and that’s going to put him in a pretty strong position to try and get a contract renewal next year at a much higher rate.

“So it’s not as though they’re really backing him with two years. I’d like to have seen three years and a real belief that he is the right guy.”

Despite an improvement in results and performances, former chief scout at Old Trafford Mick Brown has told Football Insider that Carrick has plenty of work left to do to get Man United back to former glories.

The Red Devils have not won a Premier League title since 2013, and there is a 14-point gap this season between them and champions Arsenal.

Carrick needs to use the summer transfer window wisely to strengthen his squad, with a new defender, midfielder and forward on Man United’s radar.

Bolstering his defence though could be the most important area for Carrick, with only three teams having kept fewer clean sheets than Man United this season.

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