A pale January mist still clings to Old Trafford, blurring the view outside the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, but behind closed doors, the atmosphere inside Manchester United is anything but calm.
While the stadium sits quietly under the haze, a fierce internal debate is gathering momentum, triggered by a daring and deeply contentious idea put forward by interim boss Michael Carrick.
Measured, assured, and growing in authority by the week, Carrick has reportedly made a move that has stunned parts of the club’s hierarchy—one that could reshape both his spell in charge and the direction of United’s future.
After masterminding statement victories over Manchester City and Arsenal, displays that drew widespread admiration for their tactical precision, Carrick walked into talks with the INEOS leadership carrying a single, high-stakes demand.
He is not pushing for blockbuster signings or an extravagant spending spree. His attention is locked on one figure alone: Mason Greenwood.
Since stepping into the role on January 13, 2026, Carrick has overhauled United’s approach, loosening a previously rigid 3-4-3 into a dynamic, adaptable system built on speed, intelligence, and control. The impact has been immediate. Performances have improved, belief has surged, and the idea of a genuine title push no longer sounds unrealistic.
Still, Carrick believes the team are missing one decisive ingredient. For all their structure and cohesion, he feels United lack a ruthless finisher—someone who can turn tense, cagey contests into wins with a single flash of brilliance.
Those close to the situation say Carrick’s argument is grounded strictly in football logic. Greenwood’s record at Marseille—42 goals in 64 appearances—is viewed as proof of a forward reaching his prime. From Carrick’s perspective, this is not a risk but a calculated strike for a proven game-changer.
The proposal is made even more complicated by a clause buried in Greenwood’s exit from United in 2024. Reports suggest the club still hold a buy-back option, potentially allowing them to re-sign him for a fee well below his current valuation, believed to be around £80 million.
Sources claim Carrick left no room for ambiguity when addressing the board. His message was direct: he is at Manchester United to win. Success, in his eyes, comes from picking the strongest squad possible, not from being anchored to the past. Reflection, he reportedly argued, has its place—but league titles are what the fans demand.
On the pitch, Carrick views Greenwood as the final addition to an already dangerous attack. With Benjamin Šeško leading the line, Bryan Mbeumo stretching defences with raw pace, and Matheus Cunha knitting play together creatively, Greenwood’s arrival would add sharpness and unpredictability. His ability to finish with either foot and find space instinctively could push United’s attack from efficient to lethal.
Yet for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS leadership, the issue stretches far beyond tactics and goals. It presents a serious ethical and reputational dilemma.
Over the last two years, the club has worked hard to repair its image after the controversy that surrounded Greenwood’s departure in 2022. Revisiting that chapter threatens to undo much of that progress.
The boardroom, according to reports, is split. Some executives are wary of standing in the way of a manager who appears to have total backing from the dressing room and an impressive knack for delivering results. Others fear the potential fallout—intense media attention, sponsor unease, and a fractured fanbase—could overwhelm even a credible title challenge.
As one source put it, Carrick sees a player who could carry him to the league crown, while the board sees a fire they have only just managed to put out.
With the February 2 transfer deadline rapidly approaching, Manchester United find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. The choice they make will define not just this campaign, but the values and direction of the INEOS era.
Whether they fully embrace Carrick’s uncompromising drive for success or draw a clear boundary in defense of principle, one reality is unavoidable: as the fog slowly clears around Old Trafford, the path forward has rarely felt so uncertain—or so consequential.
