Manchester United look set to make a decision over their head coach appointment before the World Cup.
Reports suggest that the club's hierarchy has moved closer to deciding where to go next, with current interim head coach Michael Carrick impressing during his short stint.
Speculation over whether or not Man United's owners would stick with Carrick, or look elsewhere for a more high profile appointment, has been rife in recent weeks, with several other names considered.
Man United look set to stick with Carrick
However, it looks like United believe Carrick is the man to take them forward, with Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox expected to recommend that he is handed the role on a permanent basis in a meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
A report in The Athletic states that the pair feel the ex-Man United midfielder has done enough in his interim stint to warrant being given the role ahead of next season.
Since taking over from Ruben Amorim, Carrick has taken charge of 15 Premier League games, winning 10, drawing three and losing just two, guiding them back to the Champions League in the process.
Whether or not he will be able to handle the challenges presented by playing regular European football alongside the Premier League and two domestic cup competitions remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, the club feel he has earned the right to be given the chance following a successful return to the club he played for 464 times, winning five Premier League trophies and a Champions League among a number of accolades.
Manchester United hope Carrick can be the man to finally bring some consistency to the club, after a string of unsuccessful candidates have joined the club, only to be sacked after difficult spells.
They include the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, with other former players like Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Darren Fletcher taking interim roles in between.
Carrick's only other full time managerial role was at Middlesbrough where he took the side from the verge of relegation from the Championship to a fourth place finish and a play-off place, where they were beaten in the semi-final by Coventry City.
The next season he took Boro to the semi-final of the EFL Cup for the first time since the Teesiders won it in 2004.
Manchester United are keen to make a decision before the World Cup to avoid any uncertainty during the summer.
