Man Utd 'close in' on £140m double transfer including player Michael Carrick 'specifically wants'

Manchester United are reportedly close to sealing a double transfer worth £140 million after confirming the permanent appointment of Michael Carrick as head coach.

Carrick had been in charge on an interim basis since January after replacing Ruben Amorim.

The 44-year-old has guided United to a third-placed finish and Champions League football for next season, having won 11 of his 16 matches at the helm.

He has therefore been rewarded with a new two-year contract until the summer of 2028, with the option of a third year.

United made the announcement on Friday morning - shortly after rivals Manchester City confirmed that Pep Guardiola would be leaving his role after a decade in charge.

The fact that United secured Champions League qualification with three matches to spare has allowed them extra time to plan for the summer transfer window.

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They missed out on European football altogether for this season under Ruben Amorim, which limited the business the club could do last summer.

It is a different story this time around and United are already settling on key targets.

Carrick 'specifically wants' player to join Man Utd

According to Sky Sport Italia, United are intent on bolstering their midfield, which has been identified as an area of weakness for several seasons.

Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo have been in fine form over the final months of the season, but Casemiro has already announced he is leaving the club on a free transfer this summer.

United have little in the way of depth either, and there is doubt over the future of Manuel Ugarte, who has struggled for form throughout his two-year stint at Old Trafford.

It is claimed that the club have identified Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and Atalanta's Ederson as their two main targets for the central midfield area.

Tuttomercatoweb reported in March that Atalanta had asked for €70 million to sell Brazil international Ederson last summer, but had slashed that figure down to €30m by January.

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He only has a year left on his contract and Atalanta risk losing him on a free if they cannot sell him in the coming months.

While the 27-year-old has three caps for Brazil, he has not been selected in their World Cup squad by manager Carlo Ancelotti, which could make a deal easier to complete.

There is said to be 'confidence' that United can complete both summer transfers, with Tonali having been a long-term target.

Man Utd have held long-term interest in signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle (Image: Getty)

The Italy international, whose nation haven't qualified for the World Cup, has again been a key player for Newcastle this season, but the Magpies can only secure Conference League football on the final day of the season and would need a string of favourable results to make that happen.

Renowned journalist Gianluca Di Marzio adds there is a 'good chance the deal will go through' for Tonali, with a figure of either €100 million, or €75-80m plus bonuses, quoted.

He claims that Carrick 'specifically wants' Tonali as his first signing as permanent United head coach, and wants the club to prioritise that deal before then moving on to Ederson.