Carrick already knows his first signing if INEOS give him the job this summer, it’s terrible news for Mainoo – report

Manchester United caretaker manager Michael Carrick has demanded INEOS sign Hayden Hackney on one condition, according to an explosive new report. Midfield is the priority The Red Devils are prioritising an overhaul of the midfield this summer, with two new options expected to arrive given the uncertainties around the futures of the existing cohort at Old Trafford. Casemiro will leave at the end of the season as his contract will not be renewed, while Manuel Ugarte continues to struggle with the intensity of Premier League football amid links to Turkish champions Galatasaray. Bruno Fernandes has been reinstated to his rightful position as a No. 10, creating a further vacancy in midfield. However, there is even doubt whether he will be in a red shirt next season, with suggestions the club captain will look for a new challenge this summer. Kobbie Mainoo has gone from zero to hero with the dismissal of Ruben Amorim and his 3-4-2-1 system, as Carrick immediately reinstated the 20-year-old technician to the heart of United’s midfield – with two outstanding performances in the back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. However, contract negotiations remain at a standstill, with Mainoo understood to be waiting to see who the permanent head coach will be, despite his appreciation of Carrick’s influence so far. But, in a sharp twist, a creative midfielder to rival Mainoo is the first decision Carrick will enact should he be handed the reins permanently this summer by INEOS – with a return to the Riverside Stadium on the cards. A Raid on Riverside After leaving United as a coach in late 2021, Carrick became manager of Middlesbrough the following year, leading the Championship side from the brink of relegation to the play-offs. The 44-year-old oversaw 16 wins from his first 23 games as he guided ‘Boro to Wembley, only to be defeated by Coventry City in the semi-finals. Nonetheless, it was a superb transformation for the north-east club, with Carrick’s use of Hackney – a 23-year-old English midfielder – key to this change in fortunes. Hackney became the creative heartbeat of Carrick’s side, controlling the tempo of games in a manner which resembled his manager in a former life. The North Yorkshire native has gone on to establish himself as the best midfielder in the Championship, even after Carrick was dismissed last summer. One analyst describes him as the division’s “worst kept secret” while another believes he is on a “different planet” to any of his competitors. United were immediately linked with a move after Carrick was appointed, with Middlesbrough understood to have set a £30 million price tag as Tottenham Hotspur were also circling. However, budgetary restraints at Old Trafford have led INEOS to delay a rebuild of the midfield until the summer, ruling out a January swoop for Hackney. Carrick will demand a reunion with his former pupil if he is made permanent head coach at the end of the season, according to Sports Boom, with United’s wins against their rival putting him in a “strong position to continue in the role long-term.” INEOS are intent on appointing a long-term successor for Amorim who has both the personality to handle the hotseat at Old Trafford, but also a wealth of Premier League experience, having been burnt twice now by coaches who had not managed in England before. However, Sports Boom reveals that if United’s resurgence under Carrick continues for the remainder of the season, United’s hierarchy will “find it difficult” to ignore him. And should this twist in the tale occur, expect Hackney to join his old boss at Old Trafford as a new signing the very next day. Featured image Carl recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.