Manchester United plots to lure Enrique, with million-pound annual salary becoming a hurdle! Carrick winning 5 more matches might sway Sir Ratcliffe.

Manchester United insiders disclose that during discussions about the formal manager for this summer, the board is more and more frequently bringing up Luis Enrique's name. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group is prepared to make efforts to recruit this celebrated Spanish coach.

Rumors about Enrique leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer have persisted, and it is said he has long harbored a desire to coach in the Premier League. However, there remains an obstacle: if Enrique steps down from the PSG helm, he might opt to take a season off to recharge, a common practice among many top coaches.

Another issue with Manchester United's invitation to Enrique is his income. Enrique is the highest-paid manager in Ligue 1. Interestingly, Enrique is the lowest-salaried coach at PSG since its Qatar acquisition. Yet, compared to other French clubs, Enrique's earnings remain astronomical.

Enrique's annual salary is 12 million euros, equivalent to 9.6 million pounds. This means Enrique earns approximately 185,000 pounds per week, which would rank seventh even among Manchester United's current players.

Interestingly, the 55-year-old Enrique is also the world's seventh highest-paid manager. To hire him for Manchester United, his income would likely reach new heights. In February this year, after winning the Champions League, Enrique extended his contract with Paris until 2027; if United wants to poach him, compensation must be paid.

Therefore, in terms of salary, current manager Carrick holds a clear advantage. If Sir Ratcliffe seeks a low-cost and compliant coach, Carrick is the best choice. The 44-year-old English legend's half-season earnings are reportedly only 1.75 million pounds; even after a raise upon formal appointment, around 4 million pounds per year would suffice.

When coaching Middlesbrough in the Championship, Carrick's initial two-year contract salary was just 1 million pounds per year; after a renewal with a raise, his annual salary remained only 1.5 million pounds. Thus, if Carrick continues next season, he could become Manchester United's lowest-paid coach in Premier League history, saving Sir Ratcliffe a substantial sum.

However, Carrick needs to lead the team well in the final seven Premier League matches, ensuring the club truly crosses the line successfully and returns to the Champions League, to have a chance of impressing Sir Ratcliffe and securing the permanent manager role. He must learn from last season's lesson of Ruben Amorim. After the March international break, the Red Devils suffered eight consecutive league defeats, finishing 15th and setting a disgraceful record.

Manchester United's results then were: Nottingham Forest 1-0 United, United 0-0 Manchester City, Newcastle 4-1 United, United 0-1 Wolves, Bournemouth 1-1 United, Brentford 4-3 United, United 0-2 West Ham, Chelsea 1-0 United.

Only in the final round of the season did the Red Devils defeat Aston Villa 2-0, ending the losing streak. Unfortunately, by then the season was already doomed to complete failure.

Amorim's sole goal at the end of last season was winning the Europa League, which he also failed to achieve, losing 0-1 to Tottenham in the final. This time Carrick is opposite, with no other competition tasks, only the last seven Premier League matches against Leeds, Chelsea, Brentford, Liverpool, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton.

Interestingly, Manchester United's upcoming fixtures alternate exactly between home and away, with four home games and three away. Currently, United leads sixth-place Chelsea by seven points; securing five victories would 100% guarantee a top-five finish and thus a Champions League spot next season.