Michael Carrick
January 2026
Carrick praised Mainoo’s quality, mindset, and ability to handle big games, indicating the 20-year-old will get more chances after being marginalised under Ruben Amorim. Carrick cited a long working relationship dating back to Mainoo’s early teens, stressed the importance of academy pathways, and pointed to Mainoo’s performance and enjoyment in the derby as evidence of what he can offer.
Manchester United
January 2026
United’s stadium plan is framed as a new-build 100,000-seat ground on the Old Trafford site, positioned as a “Wembley of the North,” with costs cited up to £2bn, while financial headwinds remain a concern. Ratcliffe argued refurbishment would be close to new-build cost and still leave a compromised stadium, citing structural issues, outdated infrastructure, access constraints by the railway, and operational limitations, so a purpose-built design is the “wiser” long-term spend.
Casemiro
January 2026
Manchester United and Casemiro confirmed he will leave in the summer when his contract expires, ending a four-season spell at Old Trafford. United’s statement highlighted 146 games, 21 goals, plus Carabao Cup 2023 and FA Cup 2024 success, with a final home tribute planned versus Nottingham Forest. Reporting notes a one-year extension clause tied to a starts threshold that became unrealistic after cup eliminations.
Yisa Alao
January 2026
Chelsea are reportedly close to signing 17-year-old Sheffield Wednesday defender Yisa Alao, beating Manchester United to the deal with a package that could exceed £1m including add-ons. The structure is said to be about £500k upfront with performance-related bonuses. The move fits Chelsea’s youth-heavy recruitment model and gives Rosenior an early market win against a direct Premier League rival.
Manchester United
January 2026
United fell to eighth in the Deloitte Football Money League, dropping below Liverpool and Arsenal for the first time in the report’s history, highlighting the financial impact of their poor 2024-25 campaign and reduced competitive standing. Despite recording £666.5m turnover, United were overtaken by rivals as on-pitch decline undercut growth. The report frames the slide as a long-term erosion that commercial strength can no longer fully offset.
Roberto De Zerbi
January 2026
De Zerbi dismissed speculation about the United job and said his focus is entirely on Marseille while United continue their search for a permanent head coach. He stressed he feels good at the club and city and would not discuss future possibilities, despite past reports he was interviewed for the role and United admiration for his work since Brighton and his early Marseille success.
Howard Webb
January 2026
Webb said officials were correct to book Dalot rather than send him off for a studs-up challenge on Doku that sparked debate. Webb argued the contact was brief and glancing and lacked the speed and intensity typical of serious-foul-play reds, warning that slow motion and freeze frames exaggerate force and distort real-time assessment that referees and VAR must prioritise.
Jamie Carragher
January 2026
Carragher said Carrick should not be considered for the permanent United job, arguing he lacks the elite level needed to win the Premier League. He compared Carrick to Rosenior as managers unlikely to topple top-tier rivals, then selected a shortlist of Nagelsmann, Tuchel, Luis Enrique, and Howe, with Tuchel singled out as having the edge and confrontational drive to reset a drifting club.
Kobbie Mainoo
January 2026
Mainoo is reportedly no longer considering a January exit after starting under Carrick, following a period of reduced minutes under Amorim. Amorim insisted he picked “best players” and Mainoo was used sparingly, but Carrick started him in his first match and the derby win is now framed as a turning point that cools short-term transfer talk.
Rayan Cherki
January 2026
Evra called out Cherki for disrespecting United after Cherki’s earlier quote about wanting to “kill” United resurfaced following City’s derby defeat. Cherki started on the bench and came on at half-time, but had no meaningful impact as United controlled the game; Evra posted a pointed response online, tying the loss to Cherki’s pre-match bravado.
