Former Premier League manager Tim Sherwood has predicted that Manchester United’s Michael Carrick could make the switch to Manchester City in January.
Tim Sherwood during his time as Aston Villa boss
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has made the sensational claim that Manchester City could sign Manchester United veteran Michael Carrick in the January transfer window, as quoted by the Daily Star.
The 35-year-old former Spurs man has made 292 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils since his £18.6 million move to Old Trafford in 2006, but has failed to make a league start during Jose Mourinho’s tenure, appearing only once as a substitute.
Sherwood highlighted Pep Guardiola’s desire to have a ball-playing deep-lying midfielder in the middle of the park as a reason why Carrick could be a target for the Citizens, as quoted by the Daily Star:
Manchester United’s Michael Carrick
“Michael Carrick is the first name on a Premier League team sheet in my opinion. Man City are crying out for a Michael Carrick. They play with Fernando or Fernandinho in there. They are good at what they do but they can’t do what he can do. When Pep Guardiola was at Barcelona, he had Sergio Busquets doing that. He had Xabi Alonso doing that at Bayern Munich. Michael Carrick is a replica of them players and if Man United don’t want him, Man City will buy him in January.”
While a player with Carrick’s attributes would be perfectly suited to Pep’s style of play, it is unlikely to say the least that United would consider selling one of their stars, albeit a fringe player, to their fierce rivals.
Manchester United’s Michael Carrick
United head to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea later today, and Mourinho will likely once again opt for Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini at the base of his midfield.
Where Carrick is plying his trade in the second half of the season will depend heavily on how much game-time he receives between now and then, and whether or not he is content with playing a bit-part role in United’s campaign.
Michael Carrick
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