Man Utd
Carrick Favoured to Take Interim Charge as United Search Nears Decision
Reports place Michael Carrick as United’s likely interim manager; Fletcher warns players are fragile
Michael Carrick has emerged as the leading candidate to be Manchester United’s interim manager until the end of the season, multiple reports say. Negotiations with Solskjær had proved problematic in regards to his backroom staff, and United are operating with a makeshift coaching group drawn from the academy after Amorim’s entire team departed alongside him earlier this month.
Multiple outlets in the English media now place Carrick in “pole position” to take temporary charge. The Times and Sky Sports News say United are likely to confirm their next interim manager within the next 48 hours, and the Daily Mail reports there is hope inside Old Trafford that a decision could come as early as Monday.
Darren Fletcher, who has held the dugout on a temporary basis, spoke after Sunday’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion and said he had “zero indications” about how long he would remain in the role or who would replace him. Fletcher also issued a clear message about the state of the squad and the task facing whoever steps in.
“I think you could see the players are fragile but they’ve got to respond,” Fletcher said. “Confidence is one of the most powerful things in football so when you don’t have it, you have to dig deep and then the confidence comes back.
“It’s over to them, they need to make sure that they have got a lot to play for this season. This team is still good enough to achieve success this season but they have to dig deep.”
Fletcher added: “It is a massive responsibility to lead this club. I have given it my best and I am disappointed not to win a game.
“I think there are some good things there but ultimately it wasn’t enough. I am more disappointed about that than anyone. I care for the club, I want the club to do well and I want the players to do well. I mean that. I have had my time as a player and loved every minute of it.
“Now it is about them. We need to help them, the club needs to help them, they need to help themselves.”
Arsenal
United’s Lewis-Skelly interest gains new angle amid Arsenal’s summer plans
United’s Lewis-Skelly interest grows as Arsenal weigh sales to finance summer transfer moves.
Manchester United are said to be weighing up a move for Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly, with his future now viewed through the wider lens of Arsenal’s own transfer ambitions this summer.
United’s interest in Lewis-Skelly first surfaced last March, when the youngster was still on the periphery. That attention has returned, and The Independent reports that it could become more serious if Arsenal manage to complete a deal for either Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães or Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr.
Guimarães may be the more significant of the two from United’s perspective. His arrival would add another obstacle for Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal, while his departure could also make Newcastle even less inclined to sell any more of their key players this season. United had already been linked with Lewis Hall as they looked to address the left-back position, but their attention may now tilt towards Arsenal’s academy graduate instead.
That role is a pressing issue at Old Trafford. Last season, three different coaches selected the same player at left back in every Premier League match: Luke Shaw. At 31, and 13 years on from his top-flight debut, Shaw completed the first league season of his career in which he started every game.
It is unlikely to happen again. United’s schedule was unusually light last season, with only 40 matches in total, but the coming campaign will bring at least eight additional games in the Champions League alone. Michael Carrick will also want a stronger showing than last season’s early exits in both domestic cups.
Shaw will need protecting from overload, yet United’s options remain thin. Carrick appears to view Patrick Dorgu as a winger rather than a defender, leaving Harry Amass, who has four Premier League starts, as the only other natural left back.
Lewis-Skelly, also 19, already has more senior experience, with 20 Premier League starts and 15 in the Champions League. His versatility adds to the appeal, having begun as a midfielder in Arsenal’s youth teams before impressing alongside Declan Rice in last season’s Champions League semifinal and final.
Arsenal, meanwhile, may have reasons to consider sales of their own. Mikel Arteta wants more after last season’s title success, but the club must also manage the cost of major additions. With Lewis-Skelly arriving through Hale End for $0, any fee would count as pure profit. The same logic applies to Ethan Nwaneri, another 19-year-old who could be moved on to help fund new arrivals.
Atlético Madrid
Mbeumo leads United past Atlético as Mount and Lacey also stand out
Mbeumo scored twice as United beat Atlético, with Mount and Lacey also impressing in Stockholm.
Manchester United made it two preseason wins in a row on Saturday, edging Atlético Madrid 2-1 at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm in a match that offered Michael Carrick several useful signs. The result itself may matter less than the context, but against strong opposition and with a competitive lineup, United had enough to take from the performance.
Bryan Mbeumo was the decisive figure. After Shea Lacey was fouled in the area, the Cameroon international converted a penalty in the 53rd minute. He then struck the winner 21 minutes later, reacting quickest to a deflected ball in the box, resisting pressure from the goalkeeper and lifting a close-range finish into the roof of the net. It was a reminder that his influence went well beyond the two goals.
Mbeumo looked lively throughout, registering the joint-most shots on the pitch while also creating chances and sending in dangerous crosses. His pace, direct running and willingness to commit defenders repeatedly unsettled Atlético, a side widely recognised for its defensive discipline. If he sustains that level, there is reason to expect a far stronger 2026-27 than his debut campaign.
Mason Mount also delivered a noteworthy performance. For a player whose United spell has been interrupted by injuries and inconsistency, he was heavily involved, creating three chances, playing 13 passes into the final third, completing four accurate long balls and finishing with a 100% dribble success rate. He also added three important defensive actions, even if his work in physical duels was less convincing.
Shea Lacey continued to strengthen his case for more involvement under Carrick. Used as United’s No. 10, the 19-year-old pressed aggressively, worked tirelessly without the ball and remained a constant threat in attack. He also handled the physical side well against a demanding Atlético side.
Carrick is still not selecting his strongest XI, and this was another experimental lineup, but the display still gave him several encouraging individual performances to consider.
Juventus
Zirkzee’s United Path Looks Clearer as Juventus Move Away
Zirkzee’s United future is clearer, with Juventus now looking unlikely to move after summer spending.
Joshua Zirkzee’s immediate future is starting to take shape, and a move to Juventus now appears highly unlikely.
The 25-year-old has produced useful moments at Manchester United, but he has not fully settled into a defined role. Last season also worked against him, with United playing only 40 matches in all competitions. With no European football and early exits from domestic cups, there simply were not enough minutes to spread across the squad.
That picture changes in 2026/27. United are guaranteed at least eight more matches because of the Champions League league phase, with the possibility of several further fixtures beyond that. The demands on the squad will rise sharply, and that alters the context around Zirkzee’s situation.
Juventus had been linked with interest earlier this week, but their own business makes that pursuit difficult to imagine. The Turin club lost Dušan Vlahović at the end of June after no new contract was agreed with the Serbian striker. Since then, Fabrizio Romano has reported that a deal for Randal Kolo Muani is close to completion. The loan with obligation to buy would eventually cost an estimated $51.4 million (€45 million), a figure that underlines the club’s finances and the reality that payment is being pushed into the future.
Juve have also already committed $45.7 million (€40 million) on Loïs Openda as part of his loan from RB Leipzig. Openda has since gone on loan to Lyon for $4 million (€3.5 million) after scoring only once in Serie A last season. Patrick Berger of Sky Sport Germany also reported on Wednesday that a deal for Bayer Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegović, starting at $37.7 million (€33 million), is in the “final stages.”
Against that backdrop, there seems little room for another major move.
The Athletic reported this week that Manchester United are “open to selling” Zirkzee, which is not the same as actively pushing him out. Ajax interest is not expected to develop after two other signings, while two unnamed Premier League clubs have made enquiries. The window closes on Sept. 1.
Zirkzee has often looked like a player whose role has been misunderstood since arriving at Manchester United. He is a versatile forward, not merely the physical centre-forward some assume. He prefers to drop into build-up play, use his close control, and create from deeper positions. That was evident last Friday, when he scored one and assisted another in the preseason win over Rosenborg.
