Man United set for talks with manager admired by West Brom - Baggies hopes will be fading

West Brom managerial target Michael Carrick is set for talks with Manchester United .

West Bromwich Albion are in the hunt for a new manager following the sacking of Ryan Mason.

The Baggies currently occupy 18th in the Championship , with the recent 2-1 loss against Leicester City proving to be the final act of Mason's reign.

Reports have linked multiple names with the position at The Hawthorns, including ex- Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick.

Though a big Manchester United update has impacted this , with the 20-time English champions also active in the manager market following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

Managerial departures have been a big theme across the English game in 2026, with Enzo Maresca's tenure at Chelsea coming to an end on New Year's Day, alongside the sackings of Ryan Mason and Ruben Amorim by West Brom and Manchester United , respectively.

United parted ways with Amorim earlier this week after the Portuguese oversaw a dismal period at Old Trafford.

It has been widely reported that the Red Devils are in search of a manager to assume caretaker duties, while a search is conducted ahead of the summer. As per The Athletic, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Albion target Michael Carrick are reportedly set for talks with the club , while Carrick's ex-United teammate Darren Fletcher will take charge of this evening's clash with Burnley.

Carrick took charge at Old Trafford for three matches after the sacking of Solskjær in 2021, before Ralph Rangnick's arrival. He is admired in the Black Country , though reports from the Daily Mail's Tom Collomosse suggest that a move to the club "looks a relatively long shot at this stage". That's something that will feel an even longer shot amid these talks with Man United .

The Baggies started the term well under the guidance of Mason, though their form continued to dip heading into the new year, while consistency remained a huge problem.

Though when it comes to jobs in the Championship , there aren't many bigger than that of West Brom . Whatever the circumstances, Albion will always be expected to fight for promotion when they find themselves in the second tier.

Carrick is someone who has proven himself capable of taking his side to the brink, with his Middlesbrough side reaching the play-offs in the 2022/23 season, before narrowly losing to Coventry City at the semi-final stage.

As with West Brom , Boro themselves are always named as potential contenders ahead of a new season, and Carrick was able to meet expectations and kickstart the recent rise on Teesside, with Middlesbrough now one of the promotion favourites under Kim Hellberg.

While Carrick has been named as a someone the club admire, a move looks to be out of the picture at the moment - his 316 Manchester United appearances will also play a huge factor if there were to be a decision to be made between the clubs.

Albion are set for a break from Championship action this weekend, though they will still compete against fellow second-tier side Swansea City in the FA Cup. And with a massive fixture against high-flying Boro coming up, the Baggies will hope to have a man in post as they look to climb the standings.