Michael Carrick to Middlesbrough is back on with talks ramping up over the last 24 hours as West Bromwich Albion look set to miss out.
Boro have been hunting for a new manager having parted ways with Chris Wilder earlier this month.
Wilder’s terrible start to the season – just one win in 11 Championship games – saw him lose his job against the backdrop of big expectations this season.
A number of names have been linked with the Boro job but it looks like a name that was out of the mix is back in the picture.
Michael Carrick to Middlesbrough is back on
iNews reported after Wilder’s sacking that Michael Carrick was in contention for the Boro job almost a year since leaving Manchester United.
The Sun then suggested that Carrick had already picked out Mike Phelan and Rene Meulensteen for his coaching staff at the Riverside Stadium.
TalkSPORT reported that Carrick had turned down the Boro job and that the move was effectively off.
However, The Northern Echo now claim that the deal is back on and talks with Carrick have been cranked up over the last 24 hours.
It’s suggested that Boro are close to appointing Carrick with the Wallsend-born coach now nearing a return to the North East.
This will be a major boost for Boro, who were seemingly striking out with their top coaching target just a matter of days ago.
It’s not so good news for West Bromwich Albion though.
The Baggies are also hunting for a new manager having sacked Steve Bruce last week.
The Northern Echo suggested that West Brom were targeting Carrick for the job and were emerging as a real rival to Middlesbrough.
However, it looks like Middlesbrough seem to be a more likely destination for Carrick, leaving West Brom to go back to the drawing board in their managerial hunt.
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