Man United weigh up two candidates as pressure mounts on Carrick
Manchester United’s hierarchy is reportedly preparing contingency plans in case they decide to part ways with Michael Carrick, with two names standing out as the leading contenders to take over at Old Trafford.
The situation
Carrick was handed the permanent job at the end of last season after a stellar interim spell in which he steered United to a top-three Premier League finish and Champions League qualification. But this season has been a different story — United are only five games into the 2026/27 campaign and Carrick is already under pressure, having picked up just five points from their first five league games and been knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
The frontrunner: Antonio Conte
By most accounts, United’s co-owners INEOS are looking at former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte as a potential replacement. Italian outlet Calciomercato reports Conte is at the “top of the list,” with the club said to be “considering a change in the dugout” and having made “initial contact” to gauge his availability. Conte is currently out of work after leaving Napoli, and his track record of quick turnarounds at top clubs makes him an obvious name to float — though some reporting flags that he’s historically been better suited to short, intense spells than long-term projects.
The alternative: Julian Nagelsmann
The other name that keeps coming up is Julian Nagelsmann. He’s currently without a club, while Simone Inzaghi — working at Al-Hilal — could also become relevant depending on how his situation develops. Journalist Ben Jacobs, who has been closely tracking United’s contingency planning, also mentioned Eddie Howe, a free agent previously put forward by former sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Where things stand
For now, the club insists patience is the plan. Jacobs reports United are not moving towards an immediate managerial change despite the underwhelming start, and are not believed to be preparing a September dismissal. Even so, he noted United have a habit of publicly backing managers before changing course later — pointing to how both Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag were supported before eventually being sacked, which is why the club is said to be lining up options regardless.
The general expectation, per reporting, is that Carrick will get through the international break and into the festive period before any real decision is made — but if results don’t turn around, Conte looks the most heavily backed option, with Nagelsmann as the other name to watch.