Manchester United co-owners Ineos have asked 12 managers about the managerial position at Old Trafford, with three of those previously linked candidates currently available for recruitment. The pressure on Michael Carrick has intensified following Wednesday's 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como, which leaves United without a win in seven games.
The result has highlighted how far the club has to go in its bid to contend for major honours once again. While not all the blame lies with the coach, Carrick remains among the favourites to be the first Premier League manager sacked this season.
Previous Targets Now Available
Several of those who have been linked with the club in recent years are currently free agents. Thomas Frank and former United assistant Kieran McKenna were among those touted as potential replacements when Erik ten Hag's position was debated in the summer of 2024. Frank floundered in a short spell with Tottenham before receiving the sack in February, while McKenna stepped down as Ipswich boss after guiding them back to the top flight.
McKenna, in particular, could make sense to replace former colleague Carrick, given his five years of experience working in different coaching roles at Old Trafford. The Athletic reported at the time on United's shortlist, which included Thomas Tuchel, Robert De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino, though each of those coaches are currently off limits: Tuchel is in charge of England, Pochettino has teamed up with the United States and De Zerbi is striving for success at Tottenham.
More Names on the List
Prior to Ruben Amorim's appointment in November 2024, it was reported United had added Marco Silva and Graham Potter to their list of targets. Currently on the books with Benfica and Sweden's national team, respectively, each of those names would require a significant severance fee today.
The Athletic reported at the start of the summer that Carlo Ancelotti and Julian Nagelsmann were also being eyed by United. Both managers were committed to international teams with Brazil and Germany at the time. While Ancelotti is still preoccupied given his deployment with the Selecao, Nagelsmann has since been sacked by Germany after a disastrous World Cup and would be available at little expense.
Other Names Considered
Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola and Luis Enrique were the other names bandied about as being of interest to United. However, none of those names looks like a realistic outlet to replace Carrick in the current climate. Iraola was a free agent at the time after announcing his exit from Bournemouth but is now showing promise at the Liverpool helm. Enrique isn't leaving France after guiding Paris Saint-Germain to successive Champions League titles, while Emery is on course to seal legendary status with rivals Aston Villa.
Of those names currently available, McKenna, Frank and Nagelsmann each come with different appeal but great risk as well. Nagelsmann has never managed in England, though his time in charge of Bayern Munich indicates he can handle the environment of a massive club. The same can't necessarily be said for the other two, especially after Frank's failed tenure in charge of Tottenham. McKenna's return to United would have a similar feel to Carrick's reunion, given his past links, and he would remain something of an unknown quantity.
Unless the club has other unforeseen names in mind, it appears increasingly likely United's next managerial appointment will come at a cost. And after Carrick's latest slip, Ineos could be opening its cheque book sooner rather than later.
