Realest

  It was a short but very sweet tenure for Michael Carrick at Manchester United . Three games, two wins, including victories over Arsenal and Villarreal, and a draw away to Chelsea. Not bad going at all. It doesn’t take long for a buzz to be  created in football, especially where a  manager is concerned. It’s a common  occurrence for an unknown caretaker  to come in for a couple of games, pick  up a few wins, and next thing you know  he’s in the dugout at the Bernabeu. Well, not quite, but just a few games is  all you need to have your name high  up on the list. And Carrick is no different. His demeanor and experience as a Man United coach will no doubt wet the lips of several  clubs looking for a new boss to take charge. Here are just a few possibilities. The football colloquialism the ‘managerial roundabout’ needs to get in the bin at  the first available opportunity - but  sadly there’s no better way to describe  the way in which Carrick could end up  at the King Powe

  Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar  Solskjaer has returned following his  departure from the club last year. The Norwegian was dismissed following  United's 4-1 defeat to Watford in November and posed for a picture alongside  women's U21 star Maria Edwards last night. Solskjaer's daughter, Karna, was among the scorers yesterday evening, as  the 48-year-old watched United run  out 5-0 winners over Aston Villa. Solskjaer admitted he was looking  forward to spending time with his family after his magnanimous departure from  the club, though is clearly a keen follower of his daughter's fortunes, as well  as those of the club he loves. United's men's first team have improved slightly under interim boss Ralf Rangnick — as they climbed back into the top  four for the first time since October  just last weekend. With his name still ringing out across  the terraces at Old Trafford, most fans  are still in appreciation for a man who  rebuilt United

 That means the powerful, quick forward  will cost less than Sancho did at the start  of the season, while also being a potentially  safer investment given how quickly  Haaland  has adapted to new leagues  in the past.  Rangnick was expected to build the  groundwork for future success during his  brief spell in the Old Trafford dugout, but  he does not appear to have received any  backing at this time.  However, if his successor is to lead  United to the top, the squad must  be strengthened in most areas; otherwise,  concerns about Arnold will almost likely  be raised before he has even begun to settle  into his new post. The 51-year-old must  begin how he intends to finish.

 Manchester United have been quiet in the  winter transfer season in terms of signings,  and they loaned Anthony Martial to Sevilla  yesterday night.  To compete for the Premier League crown , the Red Devils require reinforcements,  and Ralf Rangnick must be given finances  to enhance the squad and push for CL  qualifying.  If media claims are to be believed, the  three-time European champions are in pole  position to recruit a young South American  center forward in the type of Endrick.  Man Utd has been connected with the 15- year-old for some time, and Sky Sports recently  announced that Man Utd is one of the  clubs in talks to sign him.

 Despite suggestions that Tottenham Hotspur  have made a bid to Porto to sign the Colombian , Luis Diaz is said to prefer a move to Liverpool  or Manchester United, according to  publications in Portugal.  Football.  Spurs have made a 'formal approach'  worth €45 million (£37.6 million), according  to Pedro Sepulveda, who claims the Portuguese  club has 48 hours to respond.  A Bola previously stated that Liverpool  were'ready' to make a bid for the 25-year- old, but no such bid has been made, despite  rumours from Portugal currently offering  highly encouraging indicators to Liverpool  fans about a possible summer move  to Anfield.  Several Portuguese clubs have mentioned  Liverpool in relation to the Colombian  goalscorer, despite Spurs being the Premier  League club with a proposal on the table,  according to Sport Witness.  So, here's what each source has to say.

 According to the Athletic, Ander Herrera , a former Manchester United midfielder,  has been recommended as a makeweight in  a swap deal with Tottenham's Tanguy Ndombele.  Antonio Conte wants to revamp his midfield , but Herrera does not appear to be the  right guy for the job.  That's because Herrera has stated that  United is the only club in England where  he wants to play.  After his contract at Old Trafford expired  in July 2019, the midfielder joined  Paris Saint-Germain.  If he had stayed, he appears to have been  well-suited to Ralf Rangnick's frenetic  style of play for his midfielders.  Herrera was always a fierce competitor  who could have provided some leadership  and experience to United's engine room,  which has been lacking.

 Mauricio Pochettino's apparent interest  in Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele  may indicate that he is not interested in taking  over at Manchester United. The PSG coach  has been linked with the Old Trafford job,  but his recent transfer activity in France  may rule him out.  United is still on the lookout for a permanent  manager. There is no indication that the  Red Devils are close to finding a replacement  for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.  Ralf Rangnick has been named as temporary  manager of the first team until the end  of the season, and it is not ruled out that  he will be employed full-time in the future.  The 63-year-old has overseen a recent  uptick in performance and has only lost one  of his ten games in command. 

 

 Before talks with Manchester United  fell through, Ralf Rangnick reportedly gave  Jesse Lingard permission to join to Newcastle  on loan for the remainder of the season.  Lingard's contract at United expires  at the end of the season, and he has been  linked with a transfer away from Old Trafford  in recent weeks.  This season, the midfielder has made  14 appearances for United, but 12 of them  have come as a substitute.  He's become dissatisfied by a lack of  opportunities and, after spending last season  on loan with West Ham, has lobbied to be  permitted to go on loan again.  Lingard had a productive one-on-one  conversation with Rangnick on Tuesday,  according to the Daily Mail, in which the  German boss granted Lingard's request.

  Cristiano Ronaldo once phoned two  Manchester United transfer targets and convinced them to join the club ahead  of bitter rivals Arsenal. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was  deployed by Sir Alex Ferguson to secure the signings of twins Rafael and Fabio da  Silva. Rafael told the UTD Podcast that he  received a call from 'CR7' as a teenager and his influence helped them make their decision. "He called my phone, and I'll never  forget that,” the Botafogo defender beamed. "My phone had all the zeros [on the screen , to indicate an international call] and I  was saying 'Who is this? I've never received a call like this.' I answered, and I knew  him because I'd trained with him before. "He just said: 'Ah, [Portuguese  greeting ]!’ I ran to my bus saying: ‘It's  Ronaldo, it's Ronaldo! He's calling  us to speak!’ "He just said: 'It's raining here, it's  raining here in Manchester, like you know

  Ralf Rangnick has bizarrely confirmed  to a Manchester United fan on TikTok  that Jesse Lingard will be allowed  to leave the club in the summer when  his contract expires. The 29-year-old midfielder is out of  contract at Old Trafford at the end of  the current campaign and appears  unlikely to sign a new deal. The England star, who spent the second  half of last season out on loan at  West Ham, has been linked with a  move to Newcastle in this month's  transfer window but it seems the deal  is at risk of collapse. And Rangnick, United's interim  manager until the end of the season,  appeared to suggest he will definitely  be going in the summer while signing  autographs for fans outside  Old Trafford. While recording on TikTok a fan, on  the account  @phezthered , asked  the German for an update on  Lingard's future and pleaded for him  to stay because he's 'my favourite  player' and 'has got United in his head'. Then, as he finished writing an  auto