Manchester United are working on the basis that Michael Carrick’s position could change, with the club’s poor start to the season leaving his job under major threat. BBC Sport reports that work towards identifying a successor is believed to be ongoing, and that Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are emerging as early contenders to take over if Carrick loses his job. Both are said to feature prominently on the list of candidates United have explored, and both managers are aware of the club’s interest.
Howe is out of work after leaving Newcastle in the summer. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that the former Newcastle boss is fully open to joining United specifically if Carrick loses his job. The 48-year-old led Newcastle to League Cup glory in 2025, ending the club’s 56-year wait for a trophy, and secured two Champions League qualifications in his five years in charge. He previously managed Bournemouth and Burnley, is available and would be considered.
Nagelsmann is also out of work, interested in the role and high up on United’s list of contenders. The 39-year-old left his job as Germany head coach after a World Cup last-32 defeat on penalties to Paraguay, having previously lost in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 to Spain. He built his reputation at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before taking the Bayern Munich job in 2021, where he won the Bundesliga in 2022 but was sacked the following season amid fluctuating form.
Antonio Conte is another available option. The 57-year-old is out of work since leaving Napoli and is interested in the United job, while he has also been linked with Juventus. Conte has won Serie A titles with Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, and he led Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018. During his time at Tottenham between November 2021 and March 2023, he helped the club qualify for the Champions League. The fact that Howe, Nagelsmann and Conte are all out of work makes potential appointments easier for United.
Unai Emery is admired at United, but prising him from Aston Villa would be complicated. The 54-year-old is under contract until 2029 and has enhanced his reputation by steering Villa to Champions League qualification twice since arriving in 2022. Emery has won five Europa League trophies across spells at Sevilla, Villarreal and Villa, and he helped Paris St-Germain to domestic honours during a two-year stint. His Arsenal tenure lasted just 18 months before he was sacked in 2019.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler is also well liked at Old Trafford, though Brighton would have little interest in discussing his availability and a deal would be difficult financially for United. The 33-year-old guided St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga in 2024 before joining Brighton, where he is enjoying a strong start to his third season. Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, has been credited with masterminding Como’s 4-1 win over United on Wednesday night, a result that pushed Carrick to the brink. The 39-year-old former Arsenal midfielder is considered one of the best young coaches in Europe for helping steer Como from Serie B to the Champions League, and will be wanted by many major clubs in the coming months.
If Carrick is dismissed, United would be looking to appoint their eighth permanent manager or head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013 after winning their most recent title. United are the 20-time English top-flight champions. The contenders are being assessed as potential replacements should Carrick lose his job.