Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Old Trafford cohorts must decide whether to give Michael Carrick the manager’s job on a permanent basis or look elsewhere.
Carrick has guided United into the Champions League qualification places impressively, but suffered the first home loss of his time in charge against Leeds United on Monday.
Ratcliffe recently praised Carrick’s work since he succeeded Ruben Amorim, another victim of January’s managerial cull, but when pressed on the possibility of him taking full-time control said: “Not going there.”
The World Cup may yet play a part in some clubs’ thinking.
If the highly rated Julian Nagelsmann, currently Germany coach, comes on the market after the World Cup, would United be tempted?
It appears Thomas Tuchel, who has previously held talks with United, is out of the running after extending his contract to be England head coach – but good results at a World Cup can make things change.
Liam Rosenior was a graduate from Chelsea‘s multi-club ownership model when he left Stasbourg to replace Maresca.
The 41-year-old may well be one for the future, but he increasingly looks like someone being asked to take their driving test at the wheel of a Ferrari.
Rosenior drew widespread scorn when he said Chelsea‘s players performed a pre-match huddle before the game against Newcastle United, farcically surrounding referee Paul Tierney in the process, to “respect the ball”.
Chelsea went on to lose the game and matters have not improved since, exiting the Champions League to holders Paris St-Germain as well going down 3-0 in subsequent Premier League games to Everton and Manchester City.
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy has placed its faith in Rosenior, but with discontent among supporters increasing, along with poor results and performances, he must hope the club hold their nerve and keep faith in him.
On Tyneside, Eddie Howe has been under increasing scrutiny despite leading Newcastle United to their first domestic trophy in 70 years – and their first silverware of any kind in 56 years – last season when they beat Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup.
He also took Newcastle back into the Champions League, but this season has turned sour and Howe is another manager whose fate may hinge on what happens in the rest of the campaign.
It is clear the £125m sale of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool had huge knock-on effects, not least because the £69m signing of Germany striker Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart and the £55m paid to Brentford for Yoane Wissa has, so far, been money badly spent.
The sign of a panic-stricken summer, overshadowed by the Isak saga, can be seen in the fact Newcastle‘s first offer for Wissa, before eventually paying £55m, was just £25m.
Howe has suffered criticism from fans who previously worshipped him as the Magpies went out 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona in the Champions League and then lost a home league derby to Sunderland, giving the Black Cats a double over their fierce rivals.
It has meant talk about Howe’s future is a live conversation, despite his superb work.
Howe is always well attuned to the feelings of supporters, insisting he would never outstay his welcome, and Newcastle are currently 14th in the Premier League.
Chief executive David Hopkinson hardly threw a bucket of cold water on the speculation with an interview in March when he said Newcastle “were not looking to make a change at the moment”.
Howe still has the club’s support – and he will also have a key part to play when decisions are made at the end of this season.
But whatever happens in Newcastle, it looks set to be a frantic summer in the managerial market.
