Image Credit: PA Media
MANCHESTER United manager Michael Carrick’s job is in danger following a horrific run of seven games without a win.
The run has included an embarrassing 3-2 loss to Brighton in the Carabao Cup, despite being 2-0 up after 10 minutes, and Wednesday evening’s dismal collapse to a 4-1 loss against Italian side Como.
Following the latter, Carrick recreated scenes reminiscent of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s last match in charge, holding his hands up to the travelling fans apologetically.
Since the loss, the internet has been awash with rumours of those who could be in the running should the ex-midfielder be sacked.
Here are the leading candidates.
Eddie Howe
According to The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson, the former Newcastle and Bournemouth boss is director of football Jason Wilcox’s preferred candidate.
Howe left the Magpies in late July to take a break from football, but in his five years in the role, he led the club to the 2025 Carabao Cup, their first domestic trophy in 70 years.
With the Englishman having been constantly linked to the Red Devils job over the last decade, will Howe finally make the step into the Old Trafford dugout?
Fabian Hürzeler
Perhaps the obvious choice for the Manchester United hierarchy to consider following Brighton’s electric start to the Premier League season.
Hürzeler has the Seagulls in third place after seven games, with his team having scored a league high 23 goals so far this campaign.
Despite interest from the red side of Manchester, Brighton remain confident of keeping the services of the young German, with it reported a world record fee for a manager may be required to prize him from the AMEX stadium.
Julian Nagelsmann
Another young German coach to be linked to the United job is the former Bayern Munich and Germany national team coach.
Nagelsmann resigned from the latter this summer after Germany’s World Cup exit on penalties to tournament underdogs Paraguay.
Similar to Howe, Nagelsmann has been linked to Old Trafford several times in his career, especially when his aggressive gegenpressing style caught the eye at RB Leipzig.
Antonio Conte
The curveball option for the recruitment team at Manchester United.
Conte, who has been out work since leaving Napoli at the end of last season, would represent a significant shift in United’s recruitment strategy with defensive solidity his trademark tactic.
After the process of hiring up and coming, young managers has not appeared to work well for the 20-time champions, would hiring the 57-year-old Italian bring more order and control to the United dressing room?
