Michael Carrick Plots Middlesbrough Re-Union As Man United Consider Move For £30m Spurs Target

BACK Dylan Oakley Jan 16th 2026 Man United manager Michael Carrick is planning to sign a player whom he coached during his time at Middlesbrough.  The Red Devils are preparing for a huge game against Manchester City on Saturday, in what will be Carrick’s first game in charge of the Red Devils for his interim period. It’ll be a tough start for Carrick against the Manchester rivals, but if he can win at Old Trafford, Carrick will have the United fans on side straight away. He hopes the United board will back him in the January transfer window to add some much-needed quality and depth. Carrick eyeing Hayden Hackney reunion Carrick spent three years managing at Middlesbrough, where he got the Championship side fighting for promotion to the Premier League. He had a lot of star players at the Riverside Stadium, but it is understood that United want to sign Hayden Hackney. The 23-year-old midfielder is no doubt Middlesbrough’s best player, and he was a star under Carrick, before continuing to perform under Rob Edwards and current boss Kim Hellberg. According to TeamTalk, Man United and Tottenham want to sign Hackney this month, and he is expected to cost around £30m. Hackney would solve United’s issues in midfield, but he’d also work well with Carrick as he did at Middlesbrough. Man United could sign Hackney before spending big in summer It is no secret that Man United want to spend big on a midfielder in the summer. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba is the number one target, but the Seagulls placed a £100m-plus price tag on the Cameroon international. If United were to sign Hackney, he would help to reinforce United’s midfield this season, before they could then add the blockbuster signing of Baleba in the summer. It would give United a really young, but solid core of midfield players to build with, whoever the new manager is for next season. Click here to see Man United’s latest transfer news.