Manchester United have approached 12 managers over the possibility of replacing Michael Carrick, according to reports, with three of those candidates currently available to take the job. The move comes after Carrick's side suffered a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como on Wednesday, a result that has intensified pressure on the manager and pushed co-owners Ineos closer to a change in the dugout.
United have now gone seven matches without a win and are enduring their worst start to a campaign in 40 years. While Carrick is not solely responsible for the club's struggles, he remains among the leading contenders to become the first Premier League manager sacked this season.
Available Candidates Identified
Among the names linked with the job in recent seasons, Thomas Frank, Kieran McKenna and Julian Nagelsmann are presently unattached. Frank struggled during a brief stint with Tottenham before being dismissed in February, while McKenna resigned as Ipswich manager after securing their promotion to the Premier League. Nagelsmann was relieved of his duties by Germany following a catastrophic World Cup campaign and would be obtainable at minimal cost.
McKenna, in particular, could prove a logical choice to succeed former colleague Carrick, given his five-year tenure in various coaching capacities at Old Trafford. His return would carry echoes of Carrick's own homecoming, though he would still represent something of an unknown quantity.
Other Candidates Considered
During summer 2024, The Athletic disclosed United's shortlist of potential successors to Erik ten Hag, featuring Thomas Tuchel, Robert De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino. All three managers are presently unavailable: Tuchel oversees England, Pochettino has joined forces with the United States and De Zerbi is at Tottenham.
Before Ruben Amorim's arrival in November 2024, reports suggested United had included Marco Silva and Graham Potter on their shortlist. Both are currently employed, by Benfica and Sweden's national side respectively, meaning either appointment would demand a substantial compensation package today.
Risk and Cost Considerations
Of those presently available, McKenna, Frank and Nagelsmann each carry distinct appeal but considerable risk too. Nagelsmann has yet to manage in England, though his spell at the Bayern Munich helm suggests he can cope with the pressures of overseeing a giant club. The same cannot necessarily be said for the remaining two, particularly following Frank's unsuccessful stint in charge of Tottenham.
Unless the club has other unexpected candidates in mind, it appears increasingly probable that United's next managerial appointment will come at a considerable price. Following Carrick's most recent stumble, Ineos may find itself reaching for the chequebook sooner than anticipated.
