16 May 2026 13:53 BST |<\/span> Robin Bairner Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has delivered several updates that will shape the coming transfer window at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea.<\/p>\n Interim manager Michael Carrick will be retained as Manchester United\u2019s permanent manager, Romano has announced.<\/p>\n \u201cThe final approval by Sir Jim Ratcliffe has arrived, and so Michael Carrick stays at Manchester United. Permanent manager. Here we go, confirmed,\u201d he told his YouTube<\/b> channel.<\/p>\n \u201cMichael Carrick will put pen to paper and sign a two-year contract until June 2028, plus an option until 2029. The salary will be increased compared to the salary he has now as an interim coach. The backroom staff is being completed for season 2026-27.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are obviously going to be some updates on that because Manchester United will play one more competition next season, the Champions League, and obviously they\u2019re very happy to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s really important to confirm that Michael Carrick stays as permanent manager and will lead the Manchester United project into this return to Champions League football. So good luck to Michael Carrick.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, an official announcement is expected soon. But I can tell you that everything is OK. Approved by Man United, already approved by Michael Carrick. Super happy to sign, so no problem at all with the contract.<\/p>\n \u201cCarrick has always been very class on this, never creating any issues, any problem. And so now, time to put pen to paper.\u201d<\/p>\n Romano also delivered another update on a huge managerial story, with Jose Mourinho making his way back to Real Madrid.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can say that the agreement for Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, I told you two days ago, is in the final stages. I told you everything about this story. I told you in March that Mourinho was open to that. I told you in April about the conversations, the negotiations, the operation, Jose Mourinho. I told you this week it is getting to the final stages,\u201d Romano explained.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now the agreement, Jose Mourinho-Real Madrid, is really, really imminent.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we are waiting for the final approval by Real Madrid, and then it will be here we go – the return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid.<\/p>\n \u201cMourinho has accepted absolutely everything. Remember when I told you here a few weeks ago there were reports of Mourinho wants this, Mourinho wants that, otherwise he\u2019s not going to return to Real Madrid? Mourinho never created an issue. Never created any problem, according to my information, in the process of discussion and negotiation with Real Madrid, also thanks to his agent, Jorge Mendes, taking care of that.<\/p>\n \u201cSo now what we can say is that Jose Mourinho has accepted every single condition. No problem on the contract, no problem on the length, the salary. Jose Mourinho obviously wanted to understand the Real Madrid project, but Jose Mourinho is ready to put pen to paper and sign as the new Real Madrid head coach.<\/p>\n \u201cSo everything is ready for Mourinho, waiting for the final green light from Real Madrid, and then here we go, Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid is expected to be soon.\u201d<\/p>\n The future of former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso appears balanced between Chelsea and Liverpool, though the Blues are being more pro-active in this case.<\/p>\n \u201cA final decision is expected very soon on Xabi Alonso. Chelsea, I can tell you this, had a direct meeting with Xabi Alonso, not just with his representatives, but also with Xabi Alonso himself. So there has been a conversation,\u201d Romano confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cChelsea spoke to several managers: Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, Marco Silva. They had some conversations with their entourage, the agents, the representatives, the lawyers of these managers. But with Xabi Alonso, Chelsea had very productive talks.<\/p>\n \u201cNow a final decision is expected soon. Today is FA Cup final day, and so we wait for that. But after that, any moment could be good for Chelsea to go close and seal the deal for their next head coach, with Xabi Alonso opening doors to a Premier League chapter a few days ago.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now Chelsea are prepared to make a final decision on who they want as their new manager. So I will also keep you posted on that.<\/p>\n \u201cLiverpool have not activated the option for Xabi Alonso.<\/p>\n \u201cEven after another disappointing defeat for Liverpool against Aston Villa, another poor performance, 2-0, 20 defeats for Liverpool this season, Liverpool, as of today, have not reached out to Xabi Alonso.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I always told you, if they do so, I will be here to tell you and we will tell you what\u2019s going to happen. But as of today, Liverpool are yet to reach out to Xabi Alonso.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that remains the situation. Obviously, Champions League football is really important. Don\u2019t forget there will be an end-of-season review at Liverpool. Don\u2019t forget that. Champions League football is absolutely crucial. But at the moment, the situation with Arne Slot remains absolutely the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Build The FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122: LEGO\u00a9 releases stunning football-inspired collection<\/b><\/p>\n Barcelona issue Marcus Rashford update as Man Utd open door for return<\/b><\/p>\n Transfer Rumours: Man Utd and Chelsea set to battle to sign breakout La Liga forward<\/b><\/p>\n Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.<\/p>\n The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:<\/p>\n \u2022Google Play<\/b><\/p>\n \u2022App Store<\/p>\n Robin Bairner is an eminent digital football journalist who has been writing about the sport for major global publishers since 2006, specialising in Ligue 1 and Scottish football. He has been chief editor of the FootballTransfers global edition since its launch in 2020. Previously Bairner had been a key member of the editorial team which helped Goal.com become the world\u2019s biggest football website. He covered multiple major competitions as a correspondent for Goal including the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he had the opportunity to work in Fortaleza<\/a>. Among his highlights of the competition was Brazil\u2019s quarter-final victory over Colombia.
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\n Chief Editor<\/span>\n <\/div>\nMichael Carrick stays at Man Utd<\/h2>\n
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Mourinho to make Real Madrid return<\/h2>\n
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Xabi Alonso: Chelsea or Liverpool?<\/h2>\n
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