Christopher Vivell could reportedly receive an offer to join Bayern Munich, potentially throwing any move for Julian Nagelsmann into doubt. Michael Carrick is under immense pressure to save his job at Manchester United, and Vivell is said to have put forward Nagelsmann's name to take over.
Vivell's potential exit
Reports in Germany claim there is growing confidence that the ex-RB Leipzig manager will be picked to replace Carrick if the United boss fails to turn things around. However, United could face fresh problems in their search due to Vivell's potential exit.
It has been claimed that United's head of scouting could be headhunted by Bayern following a period of upheaval at the club. Nils Schmadtke is set to leave the club at the end of January after the respective parties agreed to terminate his employment, but it could pave the way for Vivell to join Bayern supremo Max Eberl.
Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund worked alongside Vivell during their time at Salzburg, and the United figure is said to be viewed as a potential successor to Schmadtke, according to BILD via Sport Witness, despite United's recent recruitment flattering to deceive.
Carrick's future
United plan to stick with Carrick until at least the November international break, though conversations about contingency plans and potential successors have taken place at board level. Vivell is said to have raised Nagelsmann's credentials and pushed for him to be the No.1 target, while director of football Jason Wilcox favours Eddie Howe for the role.
Either way, if Vivell were to leave, it's likely to impact how Nagelsmann views the job, given the United chief is his biggest advocate at the club.
Carrick finds himself under increasing pressure at Old Trafford, with the club sitting outside the Premier League relegation on goal difference. Their form in the Champions League has taken a knock too following defeats to Atletico Madrid and Como. AS Roma could inflict fresh misery on the United boss when they lock horns on Tuesday.
But the current manager in the hot seat at the Theatre of Dreams is facing scrutiny and looked set to be axed after a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last Sunday. However, he remained in the post for Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge, which ultimately ended in a 2-0 disappointment, with Lisandro Martinez being sent off.
Nagelsmann's candidacy
Sky Germany has claimed that 39-year-old Nagelsmann is on the list to be Carrick's successor and could be on his way to the Premier League, having dismissed links with Turkish and Italian sides.
Marcel Reif, German football expert, predicted the German is keen on taking the job. He said in an interview with BILD via Sport Witness: "If he doesn’t have the nerve to do it, I won’t know what to make of the world anymore. I’d be really surprised if he were suddenly to shy away from the limelight.
"You can’t start from scratch there, you have to start from below zero. I think it’ll be Nagelsmann. He’s got a good reputation, and he’s ready.
"Carrick isn’t a manager there anymore, but a caretaker until negotiations with the man who’s set to take over are concluded. They just can’t seem to sort it out.
"Their ambitions aren’t just to catch a glimpse of Brighton & Hove Albion through binoculars. United used to be a predictable force. But they’ve got everything wrong since Sir Alex Ferguson. Just look at all the managers who’ve been there: Van Gaal, Mourinho – they’ve all been there. But since Ferguson, nobody’s managed to get it right."
Antonio Conte, Unai Emery and Fabian Hurzeler have also been linked with the job.
