It has been a season of two halves at Old Trafford. After Ruben Amorim’s sacking in January, interim boss Michael Carrick steered the ship so confidently that United finished third and secured Champions League football. Cautious optimism is finally in the air.
Now comes the hard part. The club’s leadership reportedly wants Carrick to stay permanently. But is he the right man? In ESPN’s latest Keep or Dump series, Gab Marcotti and Mark Ogden question whether United’s search was truly “exhaustive.” Ogden admits Carrick has overachieved, while Marcotti argues the initial criteria for a “proven winner” were too narrow.
Here are the biggest calls they face:
1. Give Bruno a new deal?
Ogden says yes — he’s the club’s best player by a distance. Marcotti agrees but notes there’s no rush because Fernandes (32 in September) loves the club and isn’t being lured away by a rival of United’s stature.
2. What about Marcus Rashford?
The forward has been prolific on loan at Barcelona, but the €30 million option to buy looks shaky. Ogden and Marcotti agree United have “no leverage” because Rashford doesn’t want to return and they don’t want his £350,000‑a‑week wages back. “They need to take what they can get,” Ogden writes.
3. Midfield is the crisis zone.
With Casemiro leaving and Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount contributing little, United are dangerously thin behind Kobbie Mainoo. They need at least two quality midfielders — with goals — to compete on multiple fronts next season.
4. Managerial patience is key.
Carrick won’t be expected to close the gap to Arsenal and Manchester City immediately. But if he can only take United so far, “they should have the courage to make another change next summer.”
United have a promising young core (Ayden Heaven, Leny Yoro, Mainoo, Patrick Dorgu, Benjamin Sesko) and could raise over €100 million from outgoings. But after years of overpaying, the real challenge isn’t just spending — it’s spending smart. This summer, Old Trafford’s cautious optimism will be truly tested.
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