Stick with Carrick or appoint a new manager? Manchester United faces an urgent decision.

Manchester United is facing a dilemma. They appointed Michael Carrick as head coach until the season’s conclusion to buy time, but after three consecutive wins and a significant shift in the atmosphere at Old Trafford, the “caretaker” is beginning to put United in a difficult position.

The club has a timeframe to determine who, why, and when to identify and hire their primary candidate for the permanent head coach role. However, by surpassing expectations with his flawless start, Carrick is narrowing that timeframe too swiftly, potentially forcing the United management to make a pivotal decision earlier than they would prefer.

The optimal situation for United would be to wait until the season concludes and evaluate their options, possibly depending on whether they secure a top-four, top-six finish, or neither. However, this approach is unrealistic. If United genuinely aims to return to the top, they need to have their new coach identified within the next 4-6 weeks, which is why Carrick is becoming an issue. A favorable issue, perhaps, but an issue nonetheless.

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At first glance, there are no drawbacks for United following Carrick’s appointment as coach last month after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, who had a challenging 14-month tenure. By leading United to three Premier League victories against Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham, Carrick has positioned the club favorably for qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League, warranting celebration in the boardroom. However, his immediate and positive influence has complicated United’s search for a permanent successor to Amorim. In many respects, he is performing too well.

Carrick’s mandate was to stabilize the team, provide consistency to the squad, and guide United toward European qualification while allowing CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox to identify the ideal candidate to succeed Carrick in the summer. Berrada and Wilcox must determine the profile of the permanent manager—whether a young head coach or a more seasoned manager—and then negotiate with the chosen candidate, their agents, and possibly their current clubs.

All these processes require time, but if Carrick continues to excel and United keeps winning, the demand for him to be appointed permanently will intensify. The club’s leadership will need to decide whether to maintain a successful arrangement, albeit with an untested coach at the highest level, or take a pragmatic approach by disregarding Carrick entirely in pursuit of an elite manager like Thomas Tuchel or Carlo Ancelotti.

Both England manager Tuchel and Brazil’s Ancelotti are contracted until the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup, as is United States coach Mauricio Pochettino. Another possible candidate, Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace, will also be available this summer after announcing last month that he will not extend his contract at Selhurst Park. However, United cannot afford to wait until summer to engage with any of these coaches or others who may be considered, as they will likely have alternative options. Any delay on United’s part could jeopardize their chances of securing their top target.

Simultaneously, whoever is set to take the United position will want to understand the club’s recruitment strategy and have a say in decisions regarding signings and departures. None of these factors can be postponed until after the World Cup in mid-July.

Harry Maguire’s situation at United exemplifies an issue that the next coach will want to address. The 32-year-old defender’s contract expires at the end of the season, and one coach may wish to retain the England center back’s experience, while another might opt to release him to promote younger players like Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. Additionally, Maguire may want to know who his manager will be next season before deciding whether to accept or decline a contract offer.

The same holds true for Kobbie Mainoo. The 20-year-old midfielder was sidelined by Amorim and appeared set to leave United in January, but he has now started all three matches under Carrick and seems to have regained his importance in the team.

The United recruitment team has opinions on Maguire and Mainoo and has already determined that midfielder Casemiro will depart when his contract concludes in the summer. However, a head coach at a club of United’s caliber must have input regarding the composition of their squad. Potential signings will also want to know who they will be playing for. Will it be a 3-4-3 coach like Amorim, a 4-3-3 proponent like Ancelotti, or a more adaptable coach like Tuchel? Or will it be Carrick?

Sources have informed ESPN that United is contemplating transfer moves for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as they seek to rebuild their midfield. However, it is hard to envision any of them choosing United without a clear understanding of who will lead the team and their tactical approach.

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Ten years ago this week, Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola would become their manager in the summer of 2016. This provided clarity for incoming signings and facilitated significant decisions ahead of his arrival.

Liverpool took a different route when replacing Jürgen Klopp with Arne Slot two years ago, confirming the appointment of the Feyenoord coach in mid-May. However, despite Slot’s success in winning the Premier League in his first season, his relatively late appointment was followed by a summer transfer window that saw Liverpool miss out on top target Martín Zubimendi (who later joined Arsenal) and end up with just one modest signing in Federico Chiesa.

United cannot afford a similarly unproductive summer window. Despite the recent resurgence under Carrick, the club still has much to address off the pitch and requires clarity to progress. Therefore, they must make a significant decision promptly. They should either announce that Carrick will assume the role permanently or clarify that he will not.

If they remain indecisive and postpone their decision, United will only be hindering their own progress.