Carrick is also seemingly considering making a statement of his own by taking the armband away from Fernandes. When asked if that was a possibility, the former England international said: “I’m just saying I’ll always – whatever the situation is – do what’s best for the club.”

Express Sport takes a look at five potential players Carrick could give the armband to, if he decides to take it away from Fernandes.

Harry Maguire

Harry Maguire is the obvious choice. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made him the captain in the summer of 2020, but the armband was taken of him by Erik ten Hag in the summer of 2023 after he fell out of favour.

However, the Englishman has carried himself well under Carrick and been one of the United boss' most important players. He still carries the respect of the United team and has never shied away from his duties, even in the face of immense criticism.

Bryan Mbeumo

At first glance, giving Bryan Mbeumo the armband may seem like an out of the box decision. However, there are many reasons why Carrick may decide to make Mbeumo captain. The former Brentford man has arguably been United's best player this season, scoring four Premier League goals in seven appearances and contributing an assist in the Champions League.

If his performances are not enough to convince he is captain material, he has also worn the armband at international level for Cameroon. It may raise eyebrows at first, but Mbeumo is definitely a contender to be captain against Bournemouth.

Matthijs de Ligt

It feels like a lifetime since a 19-year-old Matthijs de Ligt captained Ajax to the semi-final of the Champions League. He was set to be a dominant force in European football until a deflating spell at Juventus sapped his momentum. Nevertheless, he is still one of United's most experienced and respected players.

This can be summed up by the fact United are determined to hold onto him, despite injuries stopping him from playing for the best part of a year. Now he is back playing, Carrick may hand the armband to the Dutchman to see if it can inspire the defender into reaching his old levels.

Youri Tielemans

This would be a difficult one to justify, given the fact he only arrived in the summer and is yet to really stamp his mark on the club. Nevertheless, he remains one of United's most experienced stars and is certainly a player his team-mates turn to for guidance or calm.

Diogo Dalot

No player at United has been at the club longer than Diogo Dalot. He arrived at Old Trafford in 2018, when Jose Mourinho was in situ. Aside from a brief loan spell at AC Milan in the 2020-21 campaign, Dalot has been ever-present at United, whether as a starter or from the bench.

However, Dalot is a player who divides United fans, with many regularly turning against him on social media, which provokes fans who still believe he is a good player.