Man Utd coaching target leaves Jamie Carragher red-faced over pre-season comment
Jamie Carragher’s pre-season prediction about a Man United coaching target has left him red-faced.
Manchester United coaching target Gary O’Neil has left Jamie Carragher red-faced over a previous comment made by the Sky Sports pundit from earlier in the season. The current Wolverhampton Wanderers boss is reportedly on United’s radar, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co. target a backroom staff rebuild at Old Trafford.
Away from the three-way title tussle and the cutthroat relegation battle, Wolves’ campaign has been one of the stories of the 2023/24 Premier League season. The side from the West Midlands will enter the final 10 games of the campaign with an outside shot of qualifying for Europe, such has been their form under O’Neil so far.
The ex-Bournemouth man was ushered in as a late replacement for the departing Julen Lopetegui, who left the club just three days before the start of the season. As a result of the late managerial change, many people, including Carragher, were tipping Wolves to be relegated to the Championship under O’Neil.
“You think of the players they’ve lost,” Carragher said on The Overlap back in August. “[Raul] Jimenez to Fulham, [Ruben] Neves to Saudi, [Joao] Moutinho, [Nathan] Collins to Brentford. They’re not bringing players in and I think there will be a massive disconnect behind the scenes. I think Wolves could go down.”
Gary O’Neil has impressed in the dugout for Wolves this season. (Image: Getty)
While Wolves aren’t mathematically safe just yet, it looks all but guaranteed that the Molineux outfit will avoid the drop this time around. And as a result of the work achieved by O’Neil at Wolves, reports have emerged that United could look to offer him a job.
As per ESPN, it’s claimed O’Neil is fancied by the United hierarchy, as Ratcliffe and his INEOS group look to reshape the Red Devil’s backroom set-up. The report states that the exact role that O’Neil could be offered isn’t yet known, with the possibility that he could end up being brought in as a coach, and not a direct replacement for Erik ten Hag.
The downside to any prospective move for O’Neil though is that he’s under contract at Wolves until the summer of 2026. It means, should Ratcliffe wish to push forward with plans of bringing the 40-year-old to Old Trafford, the three-time European champions could be forced into paying Wolves a hefty chunk of compensation.
However, it does come amid talk of Ratcliffe pulling the trigger on Ten Hag, with the British billionaire said to be in favour of a managerial switch. The likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank and even incumbent England boss Gareth Southgate have all been touted as potential options on the INEOS group’s shortlist.
While Wolves aren’t mathematoid the drop this time around. And as a result of the work achieved by O’Neil at Wolves, reports have emerged that United could look to offer him a job.
As per ESPN, it’s claimed O’Neil is fancied by the United hierarchy, as Ratcliffe and his INEOS group look to reshape the Red Devil’s backroom set-up. The report states that the exact role that O’Neil could be offered isn’t yet known, with the possibility that he could end up being brought in as a coach, and not a direct replacement for Erik ten Hag.
The downside to any prospective move for O’Neil though is that he’s under contract at Wolves until the summer of 2026. It means, should Ratcliffe wish to push forward with plans of bringing the 40-year-old to Old Trafford, the three-time European champions could be forced into paying Wolves a hefty chunk of compensation.
However, it does come amid talk of Ratcliffe pulling the trigger on Ten Hag, with the British billionaire said to be in favour of a managerial switch. The likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank and even incumbent England boss Gareth Southgate have all been touted as potential options on the INEOS group’s shortlist.
Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Greenwood on the same page as Man Utd duo send clear message
Man Utd stars Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Greenwood have been spotted sending the same message.
The 22-year-old forward is currently out of the England picture after Gareth Southgate admitted his inclusion would represent a distraction for his Euro 2024-eyeing squad.
Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Greenwood joined forces on social media on Wednesday to send love to former Manchester United team-mate Teden Mengi following his England U21 debut. March’s international break produced landmark moments for Mainoo and Mengi, while Greenwood looks to be keeping in touch from Spain.
Greenwood has scored eight goals and provided a further five assists in 27 games on loan at Getafe this season, and he looks likely to leave United permanently this summer.
Meanwhile, Mainoo is currently experiencing Greenwood’s former status as the next big thing at Old Trafford, establishing himself as a regular starter and breaching the senior national team.
The 18-year-old has been the talk of the international break after earning his first cap against Brazil and his maiden start against Belgium at Wembley Stadium.
He has forced his way into Southgate’s thinking for this summer’s tournament in Germany and could be the name who Sir Jim Ratcliffe builds around at United for years to come.
Mengi appeared twice for the Red Devils after graduating from the club’s academy, playing in the Champions League and Europa League.
But injuries hampered the centre-back’s progress and he left M16 in a permanent transfer last summer, completing a move to Premier League newcomers Luton Town.
He hadn’t represented England since running out for the U20 side in November 2021. But Mengi’s form for Luton resulted in his first U21 call-up, and he debuted in Tuesday’s 7-0 win against Luxembourg.
Mainoo played with Mengi in the U21s before his breakthrough last season. Before that, Greenwood was the Luton star’s U18s team-mate before he burst onto the scene under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Other United youngsters, including Willy
Kambwala and Charlie McNeill, sent Mengi support. He also received messages from fellow ex-stars, including Angel Gomes and Anthony Elanga.
It’s a credit to United’s successful academy that its alums remain tightly-knit beyond their development in the youth ranks, regardless of which path they take.
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