Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick is being linked with a return to West Ham.

The Times says West Ham may look to attract former player Carrick should the club take the decision to break with manager David Moyes for the second time.

Former Manchester United midfielder and assistant coach Carrick, who made over 150 appearances for the Hammers at the beginning of his career, is currently in his first permanent managerial role with Middlesbrough, and said to be looked upon favourably as a replacement for Moyes.

The embattled 59-year-old has been at the club, albeit with an 18-month break where the east London club were managed by Manuel Pellegrini, since 2017, but he has struggled to keep a firm hold on the role in recent months.

West Ham currently languish 16th in the Premier League table, hovering by one point over the relegation zone, and will likely be drawn into conversations about which team will go down at the end of the season.

A cheerless 4-0 defeat to in-form Brighton has compounded the argument for some that Moyes should move on from the club.