Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Crystal Palace, Premier League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Crystal Palace, Premier League
Four things will 'definitely' happen if Manchester United appoint Oliver Glasner as manager this summer.
Glasner announced on Friday that he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of his contract in June, ending his two-and-a-half year reign in charge.
"A decision has already been taken, months ago," he told reporters at a press conference.
"I had a meeting with Steve [Parish, chairman] in October, the international break.
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"We had a very long talk, and I told him I will not sign a new contract. We agreed at the time it was best to keep it between us.
"It's best that we could do that and keep it confidential for three months. I told the team today, because I think now it's important to have clarity."
Glasner has been heavily linked in recent months with the Manchester United managerial role, which is set to become vacant in the summer.
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Former United midfielder Michael Carrick was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season on Monday.
He replaces Ruben Amorim, who was sacked a week previously.
Should Glasner be the one chosen by football decision-makers INEOS to take over permanently, here are four things that will 'definitely' happen.
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Under Glasner's management at Palace, Adam Wharton has turned into one of the best playmaking midfielders in world football.
The 21-year-old, who graduated from the much-heralded academy at Blackburn Rovers, is on the fringes of the England squad and has attracted reported interest from both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
United are set to improve their midfield next summer and, with money available to spend, a bid for Wharton - who is already said to be 'hugely admired' by Old Trafford chiefs - will surely be pursued.
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Ruben Amorim's stubbornness in sticking with his three-defender system was reportedly one of the main reasons behind his downfall at Old Trafford, according to The Telegraph.
The Portuguese boss is said to have 'blew up' when the idea of a change was suggested by director of football Jason Wilcox during an internal meeting.
United will switch back to a four-defender formation under Michael Carrick, who adopted the system at Middlesbrough.
But Glasner has found success using his preferred 3-4-3 system at Palace, with two inside forwards operating either side of striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
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However, the Austrian has proven himself to be far more flexible than Amorim, meaning fans will see him switch to a four-defender system when required.
Once his interim spell ends this summer, it would be a surprise to see Michael Carrick stay much longer beyond then - if only to oversee the transition to a new manager - before then departing again.
Carrick was head coach at Middlesbrough between 2024 and 2025, and was linked with the managerial role at his first professional club West Ham before United came calling.
Though his time at Middlesbrough ended in disappointment with a 10th-placed finish, the former United midfielder proved himself to be a fine coach of young attacking talent.
And his CV is likely to fit the requirements of many clubs in search of a new manager - even if that club is not in the Premier League.
Just two months after Glasner's appointment as Palace manager, the Eagles won six out of seven Premier League matches to end the 2023/24 season.
Given Glasner's ability to hit the ground running, United may finally win five consecutive matches across all competitions - and allow viral fan TheUnitedStrand to finally get his hair cut.