Gareth Southgate has no interest in taking over at Manchester United, despite Michael Carrick’s position continuing to face intense scrutiny.

According to Football Insider, Manchester United may not be able to appoint Southgate as their next manager, despite minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe being an admirer of the former England boss. Carrick’s position remains under serious pressure amid growing concerns that he could be dismissed.

Carrick continues to walk on thin ice, with media scrutiny and pressure from all sides potentially forcing Manchester United to make a decision on his future. The former English midfielder has endured a difficult start to life as the club’s permanent manager, recording only two wins in all competitions so far.

There is already an understanding that Carrick is among the managers involved in the current Premier League sack race, and it could be only a matter of time before Manchester United decide to part ways with him. Several names have already been mentioned as potential replacements, including Unai Emery and Eddie Howe, while Antonio Conte remains heavily linked according to recent reports.

Others, such as Julian Nagelsmann, have also been mentioned, while further reports have suggested that Manchester United are interested in Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler. Brighton are relaxed about the German’s immediate future, and although Southgate remains a long-standing name on United’s radar, there are several challenges involved in luring the former England manager to Old Trafford.

Gareth Southgate unlikely to replace Michael Carrick

Southgate has been linked with the Manchester United job in previous years, including when the club dismissed Erik ten Hag and when they parted company with Ruben Amorim. With Carrick’s position now under intense scrutiny, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains an admirer of the former England manager and is believed to be keen on bringing him to Old Trafford.

However, Southgate is not interested in returning to management anytime soon and continues to enjoy his break from football. In fact, the report claims that Ratcliffe’s preferred candidate has not attended a match from the stands since the FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in 2025.

Southgate has also made his position clear, stating that he does not see a scenario in which he returns to Premier League management. As a result, Manchester United are unlikely to have the opportunity to appoint him and may need to look elsewhere to resolve their managerial situation.

For now, the club are expected to remain with Carrick and give him a few more matches to prove his worth. However, Manchester United may not hesitate to dismiss him if poor results continue and the team fails to show signs of improvement.