Jose Mourinho will make Michael Carrick captain of Manchester United next season with Wayne Rooney on course to return to Everton this summer, reports The Sun.
Rooney, who has spent the last four years as captain of the Premier League giants, is currently in talks with Everton over a return to Goodison Park 13 years after he left his boyhood club.
It all but certainly means Mourinho will need to appoint a new captain and reports are suggesting he will turn to the experience of Michael Carrick, who has often captained the side in Rooney’s absence.
The 35-year-old only signed a new one-year contract extension towards the end of last season and it remains to be seen how many appearances the former England international will actually make for United in the coming season.
United supporters were calling for Ander Herrera to be made captain after enjoying a standout season in Mourinho’s first season in charge of the club and the Spain international will reportedly be made vice-captain.
While United seemed to play better with Carrick in the starting XI last season they actually enjoyed more success without the experienced midfielder in the team. The Red Devils may have only lost two times from the 18 games that Carrick started in the Premier League, but they had a win rate of 55% without Carrick in the team compared to 38.9% when he started.
For more stats on Michael Carrick, click here to visit his WhoScored player page