MIDDLESBROUGH are confident of appointing Michael Carrick as manager before the weekend.
Carrick has been in advanced talks with the Teessiders all week and is set to replace Chris Wilder.
Negotiations stalled last week over the make-up of the ex-Manchester United star’s backroom team, which could include Steve Bruce’s son Alex.
But those issues have been resolved with the 41-year-old agreeing to take the Riverside reins and land his first manager’s job.
It is unclear yet whether he will be in the dugout for Saturday’s crunch home clash with fellow Championship bottom three side Huddersfield or watch from the stands.
Middlesbrough have only won three of their 14 games and travel to Wigan on Wednesday.
Leo Percovich, a coach at the club under Aitor Karanka, Jonathan Woodgate, Neil Warnock and then Wilder, was placed in temporary charge following Wilder’s dismissal.
He guided Boro to a 1-0 win over Birmingham but defeats to Millwall and Blackburn have left them deep in the mire.
Former England international Carrick won the Premier League five times and the Champions League during his Old Trafford playing career.
He initially joined United’s coaching staff under Jose Mourinho.
He was then part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom team before then getting a brief taste of management himself after the Norwegian was axed in November 2021.
Newcastle-born Carrick had a three-game stint as caretaker.
He led United to two wins and then a draw against Chelsea but left after Ralf Rangnick’s arrival.
