Is Michael Carrick set to leave Manchester United at the end of the season?

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If reports in The Sun are anything to go by, Manchester United’s Michael Carrick is now free to talk to other clubs after Jose Mourinho is yet to offer him an extension on his current contract.

This contract, which runs out at the end of the Premier League season, has been the subject of recent speculation after Mourinho openly said six weeks ago that he would want to keep Carrick on for another year – especially based on his superb performances for United so far this campaign.

Yet nothing has materialised for the 35-year-old as he enters 2017, and according to reports United haven’t even made contact with the midfielder yet over a new deal.

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Why should he stay at Old Trafford?

If it isn’t broken, don’t try and fix it.

Michael Carrick has been an exceptional player for Manchester United since his arrival at Old Trafford from Tottenham back in 2006, and at 35-years-old he’s still at the very top of his game.

The statistics behind his current season for United are nothing short of incredible; in his fifteen appearances across all competitions this season, Mourinho’s side have won thirteen and drawn twice, whereas in the fifteen matches without Carrick they’ve only managed six victories.

Since their frustrating 0-0 draw with Burnley at Old Trafford back in October, Mourinho has consistently stuck with a midfield trio of Carrick, Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera, and it’s no coincidence that United’s form has picked up dramatically since this change.

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Carrick’s ability to play as the holding midfielder has given Pogba licence to roam further up the field, and again it’s no coincidence that since Carrick’s return to the starting line-up, Pogba has taken his tally for the season to four goals and managed to create 21 clear chances.

With a passing accuracy as high as 90% this season, Carrick has also reinforced how he’s the engine room of Manchester United’s midfield, keeping things ticking along nicely without being spectacular.

Is a move away likely?

With Carrick now able to talk to other clubs, there’s certainly going to be interest mounting from fellow Premier League sides over the upcoming months of the season.

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It all depends on how fast Mourinho acts; it’s hard to see him letting Carrick go, based on how much of an impact the ex-Spurs midfielder has had on United’s turn of form since November, but he needs to start thinking about a new deal before Carrick is left with no choice but to look elsewhere.

The Portuguese manager would be silly to let Carrick go and take a gamble on bringing another midfielder in over summer, and will know he has a world-class player already at his disposal.

Verdict

4/10 – There’s a slim chance that Carrick could be forced to look elsewhere to continue playing his football, but in reality it surely won’t be long before Mourinho acts on Carrick’s future. For the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s midfield of Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs et al. Old Trafford is being graced by a fearsomely good midfield, and Mourinho will know Carrick is a crucial part of that.

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