A Premier League club has stepped up its pursuit of Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick after an impressive start to his tenure at the Reds.
Manchester United have hit a purple patch of late, winning four out of their last five games, and going unbeaten in the Premier League since a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa before Christmas.
With three managers taking control of the club for varying periods since then, the Reds have surprised many by improving on a run of stale games in which United failed to beat three relegation-threatened teams.
A major reason things have suddenly improved at United is the appointment of interim manager Michael Carrick, who has yet to lose a game while in control.
However, Carrick’s future is not set; there are rumours that several top European clubs are considering approaching him, with one Premier League club stepping up its efforts.
Crystal Palace monitor Carrick situation
Steve Parish and his board have reportedly touted Carrick as a replacement for Oliver Glasner, who is leaving the Eagles at the end of the season.
FootballInsider have reported that several Premier League clubs are tracking Carrick, and highlighted Crystal Palace as a possible destination for the 44-year-old manager.
Unlike United, Palace have hit a roadblock in form. Despite a 1-0 win over Brighton last week, Palace have failed to win in the League since a 2-1 win over Fulham in early December.
The departure of Marc Guehi, numerous injuries to star players such as Ismailia Sarr and Daichi Kamada, and Glasner announcing he wants to renew his contract have hampered the club’s progress this season.
That said, Palace have a record of turning things around fairly quickly. The Eagles shocked everyone last season when they beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final, securing the club’s first-ever major honour.
It is unclear whether Palace would be a desirable destination for Carrick, as said, Palace have been far from their best this year, but maintain a strong squad.
Has Carrick earned his place at United?
Many fans are calling for the permanent acquisition of Carrick due to his impressive start to his management career at United.
The 44-year-old spent eleven years at the Reds as a player, after signing from Spurs in the 2006/07 season, and has played under top-tier managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.
Therefore, Carrick knows the club and its philosophy very well and has implemented that in his first five games as interim manager.
United have scored nine goals in those five matches, and are yet to be beaten. Carrick seems to have got players like Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandor Martinez playing at their best again. So it is becoming increasingly hard to make the case that Carrick does not deserve the job permanently.
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