Middlesbrough head of football Kieran Scott has revealed that the club are in talks with head coach Michael Carrick over a new deal but has remained tight-lipped on any details.
Despite conceding a disappointing late goal on Sunday afternoon to share the spoils with Sunderland, Boro have still managed to keep themselves alive in the race for promotion and are four points off the final playoff place which is currently occupied by Hull City.
The Teesside club last featured in the Premier League back in 2017 but were ultimately relegated at the end of the 2016/17 campaign. Last season’s playoff semi-final defeat to Coventry City under Carrick was the closest the side have gotten since relegation.
The former Manchester United interim boss has twice taken Middlesbrough from an early battle for survival at the foot of the table to a race for the top six in the latter half of the season but his efforts have garnered interest from clubs in the top-flight.
It was reported back in January that Crystal Palace had identified Carrick as the perfect long-term successor for current manager Roy Hodgson whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Carrick, on the other hand, has entered into the final 18 months of his deal at the Riverside Stadium. However, speaking on the Twe12thman Podcast, Boro chief Kieran Scott revealed that talks are ongoing with the 42-year-old over extending his stay [quotes via The Northern Echo]:
“That’s private, it’s between the club and Michael. There have been talks and they’re still ongoing but I’ll leave it at that. Conversations have been going on, we’ll see where we get to.”
Meanwhile, Jonny Howson and Paddy McNair have entered into the final six months of their contracts on Teesside and Scott gave an update about the pair’s future with Middlesbrough.
“Me, Michael, the guys, everyone, we meet regularly to discuss the guys to make sure we’re on the same page.
“It’s probably a bit too early at the minute to be honest. We have to let a bit more time pass and see where we are,” he continued.
“Jonny is a hard player to ignore, we can all see what he brings to the club. He has been brilliant since I’ve been here.”
Writer’s View
Middlesbrough have lost some incredibly important players over the past six months, including Morgan Rogers and Chuba Akpom, just to name a few. However, the biggest loss would certainly be Carrick given the work he has done in his 16 months in charge of the club.
The ex-England international has birthed an exciting style of play at the Riverside and has managed to take a young squad to the cusp of promotion. Nevertheless, if Boro fail to return to the top-flight this term, the manager may be less inclined to put pen to paper on a new deal.
