Manchester United reportedly contacted Alonso, but it's unlikely he will coach them! Carrick remains the top candidate for permanent appointment.

Manchester United will start looking for the right manager for next season in April. The future of current coach Carrick is still unclear, even though he has secured 7 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 10 games, making Champions League qualification nearly assured. Yet, his permanent role is not yet confirmed.

Manchester United will face Leeds United at home at Old Trafford on Monday. Presently, the team holds third place in the Premier League table, ahead of Aston Villa by 1 point and behind Manchester City by 6 points. Calls for the club to retain Carrick are growing, and many players appear to support this move.

During training in Ireland, key players Mbeumo and Amad Diallo publicly stated that the club should keep Carrick after the season ends. However, United insists they will not rush the decision and will appoint a new manager only after considering all viable options.

Nevertheless, with Tuchel renewing his contract with England, Ancelotti's negotiations with the Brazilian Football Confederation, and Luis Enrique's talks with Paris Saint-Germain reaching advanced stages, United's available managerial choices are dwindling. Xabi Alonso is one of the notable coaches currently without a job, making United's contact with him unsurprising.

"Football Transfers" reports that Manchester United and other Premier League clubs have indeed approached the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager. However, Alonso's preference has always been his former club Liverpool. If Arne Slot is dismissed by Liverpool, Alonso would certainly be a strong contender to replace him. Additionally, if Enrique ultimately does not stay at Paris Saint-Germain, or if Pep Guardiola decides to leave Manchester City, Alonso is also a replacement candidate.

British media sources claim that Alonso has been contacted by Manchester United, Manchester City, Benfica, Sporting CP, and Porto before this summer. It is said Alonso has not yet decided his destination for next season, but he is eager to return to coaching soon.

The 44-year-old Spaniard was dismissed by Real Madrid in January and has been resting at home. Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to win the Bundesliga title unbeaten in 2024 and succeeded Ancelotti at "Los Galácticos" last summer.

Interestingly, Alonso's agent Inaki Ibanez flew from San Sebastian, Spain to Paris this week to watch Liverpool's 0-2 away defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, fueling speculation further. Reports suggest that if Slot fails to lead Liverpool into the Premier League top five and secure Champions League participation, he will be dismissed.

Last month, the agent commented on rumors linking Alonso to Liverpool. He stated: "Alonso is considering all offers received to determine his next season's destination. All speculation about him signing with Liverpool remains just British media conjecture."

Among all his potential destinations, Manchester United is the least likely. Firstly, Alonso was a former Liverpool player; if Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group chooses a legend from the rival club to coach, it would face severe criticism from fans. Additionally, Alonso prefers a three-center-back formation, which does not align with the playing style of 20-year-old English midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, whom United is set to renew and commit as a core player.

Manchester United's contact with Alonso might merely be procedural. According to British odds, the probability of current manager Carrick being permanently retained at United ranges between 60% to 62%, while Alonso's likelihood of coaching is only 5%, essentially improbable.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea's club, Fiorentina, suffered a 0-3 away defeat to Crystal Palace on Thursday. However, after this Europa Conference League match, British media did not ask him about the game but instead mentioned Carrick and United. De Gea clearly expressed support for his former teammate to continue leading the Red Devils. "He has done an excellent job and is a very good person who understands the players' feelings," De Gea said.