Michael Carrick's two-year contract with Manchester United expires in 2028 and has no option. That matters because Project 150 is not being sold as a soft reset. Omar Berrada has said the club want to win the Premier League, the 21st league title, before 2028.
Why the 2028 target is more than just branding
Berrada's wording was blunt enough to remove any wiggle room. "Project 150 is looking at our 150th anniversary in 2028," he said. "One of the goals that we've set out is to win the Premier League, the 21st league [title], before 2028. So, ideally, we do it next season and if not, then the following season."
That leaves Carrick managing a project that is already being judged against a trophy deadline. Manchester United are third in the Premier League with 68 points from 37 games. The last two titles were won with 84 and 85 points, so the bar is high, but United are not starting from nowhere.
The more awkward part for the club is that this is still a rebuild in progress. United are expected to reshape central midfield after Casemiro's exit and the already agreed Ederson deal, which tells you the spine is not settled yet. A title push before 2028 is a real target, but it is also a demand on a squad that still needs work.
The midfield rebuild still needs to land
The recruitment names linked to the midfield plan show how unfinished it remains. Warren Zaïre-Emery is being talked about as a major option, and Alex Scott is also in the mix. Frank Leboeuf said Zaïre-Emery would need players around him to succeed, while Louis Saha called him his "dream signing" for United.
Those are encouraging opinions, but they also underline the point. United are not just looking for one star signing, they are trying to build a midfield that can carry a title challenge on Berrada's timetable.
There is a good case that the club's ambition is serious rather than decorative. The less comfortable reading is that the structure around it is still being assembled. If United are truly aiming for a title before 2028, the next round of midfield business matters almost as much as the headline target.
The deadline is set. Carrick will not get to treat this as a long bedding-in period, and United have already made that clear through the target they have publicly attached to Project 150.
FAQ
Can Manchester United realistically target a Premier League title before 2028?
That is the target Omar Berrada has set publicly. United are third with 68 points from 37 games, and the last two Premier League titles were won with 84 and 85 points, so the gap is significant but not impossible.
Why is Michael Carrick under so much pressure at Manchester United?
His two-year contract expires in 2028 and has no option, while Project 150 is being tied to a Premier League title before then. That makes the deal feel like a countdown rather than a long, open-ended rebuild.
What is Manchester United's midfield plan after Casemiro leaves?
United are expected to reshape central midfield after Casemiro's exit and the already agreed Ederson deal. Warren Zaïre-Emery and Alex Scott are among the names linked as the club keep building around that area.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →