Arsenal are ready to make a sensational summer move to bring Manchester United superstar Michael Carrick over to Emirates, according to reports.
The Sun are reporting that Michael Carrick could be set for a sensational return to North London. The English veteran has been one of the pillars of almost every Manchester United win this season but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Wenger is looking to launch an audacious move to bring the midfielder over to Emirates.
Michael Carrick’s influence for Manchester United on the pitch has been telling. The Red Devils have often looked lost without the calming presence of the veteran and suffered their first defeat of the season with Michael Carrick in the starting eleven, in a 2-1 second leg defeat to Hull City.
United’s record with and without the 35-year-old speaks volumes of the player’s importance in the squad. But despite continuous echoes from the fans that Carrick is irreplaceable, Jose Mourinho has often cast doubts on the midfielder’s ability to play for a prolonged period of time. And perhaps, rightly so.
For a team of United’s stature to have a continued reliance on a 35-year-old in the middle of the park is far from reassuring. While, as aforementioned, it does go a long way to showing just how good Carrick is, it casts doubts on United’s long-term potential, where they eventually have to part with Carrick, who is well into the twilight years of his career.
Recently, reports came out that United would offer Carrick an extension on his current deal but only if he was prepared to take a pay-cut. Mourinho has again, while also highlighting Carrick’s amazing qualities, highlighted that the player might just be too old to be given a new Manchester United deal.
Mourinho: “Let’s be honest. I have seen many positives in him. But I cannot go to his identity card and delete 5 yrs. @carras16 is not 30.”
— The ManUtd Blog (@the_manutd_blog) February 4, 2017
And this may just open the door for a shocking return to North London for the veteran. Carrick plied his trade at White Hart Lane before moving to United and now Arsene Wenger is looking to offer him a return to North London, albeit at Arsenal.
Arsenal have been having their own troubles in the middle of the pitch and Carrick could be the perfect short-term solution for Wenger. And despite the player’s age and contract situation, this will be a major coup for Arsenal.
For one, Arsenal fans would love to get a Manchester United player after the Robin Van Persie fiasco, that too a player as embedded in United’s history as Carrick while it could also spite the Tottenham fans, considering the fact that the player was originally a Spurs player.
Manchester United fans, though, would hope Carrick stays at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future and, even if he does end up moving, that he atleast does not end up at one of their rivals.
