Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is fighting to save his job as pressure mounts after a poor start to the season. The Red Devils have failed to win in four matches since opening the European league phase with a 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah. They sit 13th in the Premier League, level on points with newly-promoted Coventry City but ahead only on goal difference, and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton. Summer signings have yet to make a positive impact.
Stoppage-time blow and injury concerns
United threw away a win at the weekend, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 with 10-man Tottenham, who were bottom of the division at the time. Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are injury concerns for the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, while Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui and long-term absentee Manuel Ugarte remain unavailable.
Antonio Conte leads replacement shortlist
Antonio Conte is reportedly leading United's managerial shortlist should the club decide to part ways with Carrick, according to Italian media. Conte, who won the Premier League with Chelsea, is without a club after leaving Napoli at the end of last season and has expressed interest in taking charge of a struggling giant, reports the Mirror. Calciomercato IT claims United have made 'initial contact' with Conte's representatives and are assessing his interest in the position should it become vacant.
There is also reported interest from Juventus, where Conte was in charge between 2011 and 2014 and won three consecutive Serie A titles, but the United post is believed to appeal more to the 57-year-old. Speaking to The Athletic recently, Conte hinted at his next move: "If you go to a club where the history speaks for itself - a history made up of trophies, league titles and victories - you can only honour that history in one way: by having the ambition to bring that club back, if it isn't there today, to fight for those goals."
Real Madrid close on JJ Gabriel
Real Madrid are growing increasingly optimistic about securing disgruntled youngster JJ Gabriel. The 16-year-old prodigy, who was close to a senior breakthrough, stunned United last month by requesting the club release him following approaches from Real, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. United can prevent him from joining another Premier League side this season, but his EU passport opens a pathway to a European club.
According to Madrid-based journalist Jose Felix Diaz, a final decision on Gabriel is imminent, with Real Madrid convinced they are frontrunners for the teenager, who prefers a move to La Liga. There is a growing consensus at United that Gabriel will soon depart. Asked last week about any changes during the international break, Carrick said: "No, nothing's changed at all."
