Michael Carrick has emerged as the leading candidate to take charge of Manchester United on a temporary basis, with negotiations understood to be advancing between the 44-year-old and the club.
Senior figures at Old Trafford are working to finalise an appointment ahead of the squad's return to training on Wednesday, according to reports.
Although no official decision has been confirmed, discussions with the former England international are reported to have made significant progress.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also been in the frame, with the Norwegian holding face-to-face talks with United officials on Saturday regarding a potential return to the club he managed between 2018 and 2021.
Michael Carrick appears to have beaten Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the job as interim manager of Manchester United
|PA
But the Red Devils are seeking short-term stability following a turbulent period, with Carrick's deep connections to United placing him at the front of the queue.
Carrick is no stranger to the Old Trafford dugout, having previously stepped into the breach following Solskjaer's departure in November 2021.
During that brief three-match spell as interim boss, he secured victories in two fixtures while the third ended level.
His tenure came to a close when Ralf Rangnick was brought in as the club's temporary manager.
The Wallsend-born coach transitioned seamlessly from player to staff member at United, initially joining Jose Mourinho's backroom team upon hanging up his boots at the conclusion of the 2017/18 campaign.
Ruben Amorim was sacked earlier this month, with Darren Fletcher stepping up on a caretaker basis
| REUTERSHe subsequently remained on the coaching staff throughout Solskjaer's 168-game reign as permanent manager.
Carrick's sole permanent managerial position came with Middlesbrough, where he spent two and a half years at the helm before being dismissed last June.
His arrival at the Riverside in 2022 proved transformative, with the club sitting 21st in the Championship table when he took over.
An impressive run saw Boro accumulate 40 points from his opening 17 matches, propelling them to fourth place and a play-off semi-final against Coventry, which they lost.
Subsequent seasons proved less successful, with the team finishing eighth and then tenth, narrowly missing the top six on both occasions.
Michael Carrick was sacked by Middlesbrough last summer, though took charge of United following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United dismissal in 2021 for three matches
| PAThese results ultimately cost Carrick his position.
Ruben Amorim was relieved of his duties on 5 January after 14 months at the helm, prompting the club to hand temporary control to Darren Fletcher.
Darren Fletcher has not won a match since stepping up to become caretaker manager
| GETTYThe former Scotland midfielder oversaw just two matches, securing a draw away to struggling Burnley in the league before Sunday's FA Cup third-round exit against Brighton.
That defeat appears set to mark the end of Fletcher's brief stint in charge.