According to reports from The Sun, Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick could be offered a new one-year contract come the end of the season, however, he will have to take a pay-cut to extend his stay at Old Trafford.

It is understood that the influential midfielder - who is now in his eleventh season with the Red Devils - makes somewhere in the region of £130,000-per-week, but will have to almost halve his wages to around £70,000-a-week if he is to remain with the club.

Man United have offered similar deals to a number of the former stars at the latter stages of their careers in the past, including Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, and now at 35-years-of-age, it appears Carrick is to receive the same treatment.

While the Englishman still gets game time under Jose Mourinho, he is no longer a certain name on the team-sheet, as he was a few seasons ago. However, a player of his quality and experience is invaluable, hence the club will not be keen to let him slip through their fingers easily.

Keeping him is one thing and is a short term solution, but finding themselves a successor to a man who has been at the heart of their midfield for the past decade is the real goal.

Could one of these FIVE be the answer? Perhaps...

Blaise Matuidi

The versatile defensive midfielder has an excellent range of passing and is capable of holding in front the back four and also bursting forward and creating chances. The current Paris Saint-Germain man could be the perfect partner for Paul Pogba - with whom he has played alongside at international level for France - and would give the current United midfielder the freedom he perhaps needs to succeed for the Red Devils.

Daley Blind

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Is there any need to look elsewhere for a replacement for Carrick when the club have one already right under their noses in the form of Dutchman Daley Blind?

There are eery similarities between the ex-Ajax ace and Carrick in that they are both brilliant passers of the ball and look extremely comfortable in possession - almost a step ahead of everyone else on the field. Blind has fallen out of favour under Mourinho, but was a key player for Louis van Gaal, excelling at centre-back alongside Chris Smalling. Given the opportunity just in front of the back four, however, we are certain the Netherlands international could become a star at Old Trafford.

Angel Gomes

Now from the first-team to the youth ranks for Man United's search for Carrick's replacement.

Young Angel Gomes became a key member in the heart of the development squad's XI, showing real promise. Described as: 'comfortable and assured in possession and has a wide passing range, while also providing a goal threat from a no.10 role', it may be only a matter of time before the 16-year-old gets a first-team breakthrough, however the club will have to rely on the notoriously anti-youth Mourinho to provide him with the chance to do so.

Naby Keita

Red Bull Leipzig have been the surprise package of the Bundesliga season so far, and the side have had a surprise package of their own in the form of midfielder Naby Keita, too. Signed from sister club Red Bull Salzburg for €11 million during the summer, the man described as the

Signed from sister club Red Bull Salzburg during the summer, the man described as the Bundesliga's very own N'Golo Kante, has taken to top-flight German football like a duck to water with four goals and five assists in 15 appearances so far this season.

Energetic, powerful and good on the ball, Keita may not be overly similar to Carrick, but could be the man the Red Devils need to replace him as they look to find someone who will compliment the talents of Pogba.

Ruben Neves

At 18-years-old, Ruben Neves became the Champions League's youngest ever captain as he led his Porto side out against Maccabi Tel Aviv in a 2-0 victory last season, and ever since he has been turning the heads of Europe's elite.

A defensive midfielder by trade, Neves is a far more mature player than his age suggests, and is more than capable of dictating the play from in front of the back four with his eye for a pass and tactical awareness.

Many comparisons have been drawn between him and fellow countryman Joao Moutinho, who has enjoyed a fine career with both Porto and Monaco, and of course Portugal.