Manchester United's summer timeline for manager decision: Carrick to be made permanent if Champions League qualification is achieved! Could face £15.9m compensation for Amorim.

The Manchester Evening News reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe hopes to confirm Manchester United's manager for the upcoming season prior to the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America. With the World Cup kicking off on June 11th, and despite a potential influx of managerial talent post-tournament, Ratcliffe and the Glazers desire an earlier appointment to allow ample preparation time before the new Premier League campaign begins in August.

Should the managerial appointment be delayed until after the World Cup, there would be limited time for preparation, let alone scouting and signing target players. Consequently, Michael Carrick is currently the frontrunner. British media suggest he will be appointed permanently if he secures Champions League qualification; failure to do so would prompt Ratcliffe and INEOS to seek alternative candidates.

Deciding on a manager before the World Cup would allow him to observe potential transfer targets during the tournament, participate in signings, and plan for the subsequent pre-season. However, this approach rules out national team coaches like Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Mauricio Pochettino. While successful managers such as Luis Enrique and Jürgen Klopp are attractive to Ratcliffe and the board, a move to Manchester United appears unlikely.

The Manchester Evening News states that Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone is also under consideration by Manchester United's hierarchy. The Argentine "Cholo" has achieved sustained success at Atlético, winning eight major trophies, including two La Liga titles and two Europa Leagues, and guiding the team to two Champions League finals. Furthermore, his contract runs until 2027 with a relatively low release clause.

However, Ratcliffe and his team recognize the critical importance of this decision, as the club has made several missteps in recent years. Ratcliffe himself extended Erik ten Hag's contract only to dismiss him later, and then aggressively pursued Rúben Amorim before sacking him, at a total cost approaching £40 million! At the time, Amorim wished to join United after the season ended, but Ratcliffe pressured him, stating the opportunity would be lost if he didn't come immediately.

Amorim attempted to resign without compensation in January last year, but Ratcliffe persuaded him to stay, promising a three-year period to prove himself as a great manager. Unexpectedly, the relationship soured within three months, leading to Amorim's dismissal with a £10 million payout. However, financial reports indicate the managerial change could ultimately cost the club close to £16 million! This equates to the club paying him and his five-person coaching staff over £1 million per month for the remaining duration of his original contract.

The Daily Mail reports that a document filed by Manchester United with the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday shows the maximum expected cost for dismissing Amorim and his coaching staff is £15.9 million. The final amount will depend on various factors, including whether Amorim secures new employment within a specified period.

Calculations show that the total cost for United in recruiting Amorim and then compensating him for dismissal approaches £27 million. This includes £8.3 million paid in October 2024 to buy out his contract at Sporting CP, and £900,000 to facilitate his early start. Amorim's two-and-a-half-year contract at United carried an annual salary of £6.5 million, meaning his remaining contractual earnings amounted to £10.05 million.

Previously, Ratcliffe spent £14.5 million to dismiss Erik ten Hag and sporting director Dan Ashworth. If forced to pay the full compensation for Amorim and his staff, Ratcliffe's total expenditure on dismissing managers and executives within 15 months would approach £30 million.

Consequently, Ratcliffe himself is now under immense pressure to select the right next manager—a pressure that even surpasses the concern over whether his chosen candidate will succeed at Old Trafford. Should Ratcliffe make another mistake, his already precarious reputation would be completely shattered.