Manchester United didn’t spend any money in the January transfer window, leaving Carrick with the same squad to work with for the remainder of the campaign.
If the 44-year-old helps the club finish the season in the Champions League places, United may decide to offer him the role permanently.
Carrick would then be allowed to build a team in his image, and we’ve take a look at five players he should look to sign in the summer.
Elliot Anderson
While Ruben Amorim was pushing for midfield reinforcements last summer, the decision was made to invest in other areas of the squad instead.
But with Casemiro announcing that he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, United will have to bolster their midfield options this summer.
Anderson is their top target. The England international has also cemented a starting role under Thomas Tuchel with the national team and is expected to start at the World Cup.
Angelo Stiller
Alongside a big-money move for Anderson, United should also look to sign another midfielder.
Manuel Ugarte has failed to justify his £50million price tag and finds himself on the fringes under Carrick, getting just 27 minutes of action across the last five games.
United are reportedly looking to offload the Uruguay international in the summer and Carrick may like a player in his own mould.
Lewis Hall
Luke Shaw has been a key player under Amorim and Carrick, with the previously injury-prone left-back starting every single Premier League game for United in 2025-26.
But the 32-year-old arguably lacks the dynamism and United should be in the market for a long-term replacement.
Yan Diomande
United are well stocked on the right wing with both Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, while young academy graduate Shea Lacey is a talented prospect at Old Trafford.
But Amorim’s decision to sell Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea and let Marcus Rashford join Barcelona on a season-long loan deal has left them without a specialist left winger.
They were looking to sign Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, but Manchester City won the race for his signature.
Following Carrick’s arrival and the return to the 4-2-3-1 formation, Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha have both been deployed on the left wing.
Dorgu scored in the wins over Manchester City and Arsenal but is still a left-back by trade, and Cunha prefers to drift inside and operate more centrally.
Recent reports suggest that Carrick would like to bring Rashford back to United if he is retained as head coach beyond this season, but that decision may be out of his hands as Barcelona have an option to buy him for £26million.
If Rashford remains in Spain, Carrick will want another winger and United have been linked with RB Leipzig’s Diomande.
The 21-year-old joined the Bundesliga side last summer and has since registered eight goals and six assists in all competitions, making him one of the most
Danny Welbeck
United invested heavily in Benjamin Sesko last summer, paying RB Leipzig an initial £66.26million and another £7.36million in potential add-ons.
He endured a slow start to life at Old Trafford but has improved following Amorim’s departure, scoring six goals in his last six appearances.
The Slovenia international is the only recognised senior centre forward at United, although Carrick has used Mbeumo and Cunha as false nines.
Joshua Zirkzee is another option, but he has become frustrated by his lack of game time and looks set to return to Serie A at the end of the season.
United will need another recognised striker if they are going to be playing in four competitions next season and a familiar face could be the answer.
Welbeck came through the academy at United and played alongside Carrick before leaving for Arsenal in 2014, and he is now playing for Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 35-year-old has netted nine goals in all competitions in 2025-26, including the winner in the FA Cup third round tie between United and Brighton.
His Brighton contract is due to expire at the end of the season and his experience could make him the perfect understudy to Sesko. As long as they don’t need to play Athletic Bilbao.
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