LEE CATTERMOLE has emerged as the shock favourite to replace Chris Wilder as Middlesbrough manager.
Michael Carrick held talks on Tuesday about landing his first management role but failed to reach an agreement and now looks unlikely to get the job.
And the struggling Championship side are now weighing up whether to turn to local lad Cattermole.
Born in Stockton-on-Tees, the ex-Teessiders and Sunderland midfielder is part of the temporary coaching set-up installed after Wilder was sacked last Monday.
Alongside interim boss Leo Percovich, Cattermole has been working with academy boss Craig Liddle and fellow coach Mark Tinkler for the last two matches, with that group set to take charge again against Blackburn on Saturday.
Hiring the inexperienced Cattermole would be a huge gamble for Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson, who has also spoken to ex-Watford and Forest Green manager Rob Edwards.
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The 34-year-old only joined the club in January as U18s coach having retired from playing in 2020.
He started his career at boyhood Boro but moved onto Wigan and Sunderland before finishing his career at Dutch side VVV-Venlo.
Former Huddersfield and West Brom target Carlos Corberan is another under consideration, as is left-field option Hannes Wolf.
Wolf is the Germany U18s coach and has had stints as boss of Stuttgart, Hamburg, Genk and Bayer Leverkusen.
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Wilder, 55, arrived at Boro with the pedigree of helping Sheffield United secure promotion back in 2019.
His sacking comes less than one week after being linked with the vacant Bournemouth job.
Scott Parker was given his marching orders after a 9-0 loss to Liverpool, with Gary O’Neil currently in caretaker charge of the Premier League outfit.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
