Man Utd are keen to open negotiations to hire their own Guardiola to replace Carrick

24 days. 24 every day. That’s when Manchester United fans were forced to wait a long time before finally seeing their team back in action for the first time since a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in March.

Meanwhile, Manchester City won the Carabao Cup, four teams reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and NASA went to the dark side of the Moon and back. So when Man United returned to action, at least what Old Trafford expected was a performance worth waiting for.

Leeds United had other ideas, however. With Michael Carrick’s side trying to shake off the rust, the Whites took full advantage of sending off perhaps ending all hope of a permanent gig for the Man United midfielder.

The latest in Man United’s manager search

On paper, seven wins from 11 games in charge is certainly not a bad record. In reality, however, it is two wins in the last five games which will be of great concern to INEOS, who now have a decision to make.

As interim manager, Carrick did more than do his job. He has taken over the remnants of Ruben Amorim’s tenure and lifted a failing team to third place – in the Champions League qualifiers.

For a while, it looked like more than a bounce for the new manager, but Leeds were the latest side to reveal that hidden spring on Monday.

The Red Devils cannot afford another unproven manager. Get it wrong and they’ll be after another caretaker manager this time next season, just when they have a tough chance to turn things around.

Just who replaces Carrick is the big question. Andoni Iraola’s decision to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season has put those at Old Trafford in the red, and the Spaniard is one to watch after an excellent spell on the South Coast.

But, again, questions will come about his proven ability to manage a team at the biggest stage. As talented as he is, it’s worth noting that Iraola’s Bournemouth side went on an 11-game winless run earlier this season.

So, in a different way, according to GiveMeSport, Man United will avoid that risk by looking at Julian Nagelsmann as his replacement this summer.

It is reported that the decision makers at Old Trafford will reach out to Carrick’s successor this month and Nagelsmann appears to be at the top of the list.

He is said to be officially contacted in the coming weeks and is higher on United’s shortlist than current USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino.

How Nagelsmann can transform Man Utd

There won’t be another Pep Guardiola, but the young, innovative, bold manager already in charge of Bayern Munich certainly sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Nagelsmann, just 38, is the best option on Man United’s shortlist this summer. He is exactly what they thought Amorim was. He’s young, he’s new, yet he’s experienced.

It’s not just the Red Devils who need his fresh ideas, either. The Premier League could also do with a manager ready to rule some fun away from the pragmatism that has infected English football.

Dubbed “the best young coach in Europe” by journalist Josh Bunting, Nagelsmann’s 4-2-3-1 system has brought Germany back to life and turned them into one of the most exciting teams.

It’s got the best of the likes of Florian Wirtz, which is no easy task – just ask Liverpool’s Arne Slot. And he often does so without a striker, instead relying on Kai Havertz to lead the line in the kind of false nine that Pep Guardiola would be proud of.

It is not the only comparison between Guardiola and the young German. Former Manchester City defender Angelino, who also worked with Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig, said the two managers are very similar.

INEOS will not have a better opportunity than this summer to hire Nagelsmann who has just participated in the World Cup. He is a generational talent, who will eventually bring Man United back to the top of English football.

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