LONDON: Michael Carrick (pic) will be allowed to leave by Manchester United in the summer.
The ex-Spurs star has just 18 months left on his contract and there are no plans to offer him a new one.
Carrick, 29, had an inconsistent first half to this season and only a marked improvement will prompt a change of mind by the management.
Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson increasingly sees Darren Fletcher, 26, and Anderson, 24, as his central midfield partnership for the future.
It looked like Carrick’s United career was going to be cut even shorter after a poor performance in the 2009 Champions League final. Fergie was furious with that 2-0 defeat to Barcelona.
This season Carrick has struggled as United, while remaining unbeaten, have only fleetingly found their very best form.
He has never grown into the player United envisaged after buying him for £14mil from Tottenham in 2006.
Carrick has started 19 of United’s 32 games this season and is determined to prove he is worth a new deal. But it is a battle he is losing right now.
Meanwhile, United winger Antonio Valencia could be fit to play by the end of February following his horrific ankle injury.
The Ecuadorean broke and dislocated his ankle in September’s goalless draw with Rangers in the Champions League, with television channels unwilling to show replays of the incident given the sickening direction his foot was pointing in.
“Valencia is doing well now, he’s started his running programme,” said Ferguson, adding that the 25-year-old had been working with the physios every day.
“He’s been given the all clear from the doctors, so he’s under our complete control now which is great news.
“I think possibly towards the end of February he should be back in the first team squad which is a big boost to us, something for us to look forward to.”
Valencia had originally been expected to miss the rest of the season but after undergoing surgery the time-frame was shortened although this would still be an earlier return than expected.
In his absence, Portugal’s Nani has been deployed effectively on the right wing and if Valencia returns United will have two dangerous players on the flanks – with Nani probably moving back to the left – as they seek a record 19th English League title.
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