Manchester United boss Michael Carrick will hope to continue his impressive record since taking charge of the club when his side visit Bournemouth on Friday night.
The Englishman has overseen seven wins from nine matches since being appointed as the Red Devils’ caretaker head coach in January.
In doing so, Carrick has guided United up to third in the Premier League table, and they are now on course to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
While it remains to be seen whether or not the ex-England midfielder will be given the job on a permanent basis this summer, elsewhere it has emerged that those in charge of Manchester United’s recruitment have identified an England star as one of their transfer targets.
As per Spanish outlet Fichajes, via CaughtOffside, both Man United and rivals Chelsea are interested in Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham.
The report claims that the two Premier League heavyweights have each identified the Englishman as a possible target to bolster their respective midfields.
Bellingham, 22, emerged as a talented youngster at boyhood club Birmingham City before joining German outfit Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
Bellingham has struggled with injuries this season (Photo: Associated Press/Alamy)
He made a highly positive impression in Germany, earning a huge move to Spanish side Real Madrid in 2023.
Since then, the midfielder has made 128 appearances for Los Blancos across all competitions, scoring 44 goals and providing 32 assists.
At one stage the Englishman has built a reputation as one of the best players in Europe, particularly when starring for Real Madrid during the 2023/24 campaign before also playing a leading role for England at Euro 2024.
The midfielder notably scored a remarkable acrobatic equaliser deep into added-time to send the Three Lions’ last 16 tie against Slovakia to extra-time, and at the time he was thought of as arguably one of the best players in the world.
His career has arguably stagnated somewhat since then, particularly with the midfielder having struggled with injuries this term.
According to the report, though, Bellingham could leave Real Madrid this summer with a deal likely to cost around £130 million.