Manchester United's Michael Carrick is under mounting pressure after the team's latest defeat, a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on Sunday. The Red Devils are now winless in eight matches, and an Express Sport poll has identified Eddie Howe as the fans' preferred replacement.
United, the 20-time English champions, were dismantled at home by the Cherries, who ran out comfortable winners. The result adds to a season in which Carrick has managed only two wins in 12 matches to start the campaign, and there is a growing expectation that he will be let go.
Poll names Howe as top choice
According to reports, United's three-man shortlist consists of Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann and Fabian Hurzeler. However, the man who topped the standings in the Express Sport poll was Eddie Howe, who received 28 per cent of the vote.
Howe left his post at Newcastle United on the eve of the new season and is already being linked with a return to the Premier League. He spent five years in charge of the Magpies and was responsible for ending their trophy drought and delivering Champions League football to St James' Park on two occasions.
Other contenders in the mix
Conte was the next highest, with the Italian returning 21 per cent. German duo Nagelsmann and Hurzeler managed 16 and 13 per cent respectively, while Gareth Southgate finished above Cesc Fabregas with 12 per cent compared to the Spaniard's 10 per cent.
Meanwhile, ex-United ace Gary Neville has branded the club's situation an 'absolute mess'. Speaking to Sky Sports, he remarked: "The Manchester United fans are singing the Michael Carrick song because I think they know what's going to happen here. They've seen this before. He's one of their own and he's popular. But the owners, the sporting department and the players are not popular and they've badly let this football club down."
Neville added: "Those two [Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox] tomorrow are probably going to make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans, but it's probably necessary. It's just an absolute mess."
