Manchester United have reportedly been turned down by three managers as the club weighs up whether to replace Michael Carrick, whose position is under review during the international break. The Red Devils sit in the Premier League relegation zone with just eight points from their opening 10 games, and a meeting has been held to assess the current boss's future.
Carrick's Position Under Scrutiny
Carrick's side salvaged a 4-4 draw at home against Aston Villa on Sunday evening, having trailed by two goals on two separate occasions before Patrick Dorgu rescued a point. The result was not enough to lift United out of the bottom three, where they will remain until their next game away at Liverpool on November 22.
Many expected Carrick to be dismissed after last month's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Since then, his team have lost to Chelsea, beaten Roma, and drawn with Villa. Reports suggest his position is being assessed in a meeting today and will be the subject of conversations between senior club figures over the international break.
Three Managers Snub United
If Carrick is sacked, United will need a replacement lined up in advance, but reported attempts to persuade a top manager to take the job have so far fallen short. Express Sport has identified three coaches who have reportedly declined a switch to Old Trafford.
Unai Emery, whose Aston Villa side came close to dealing a hammer blow to Carrick's tenure on Sunday, was reportedly the top choice to supplant the Englishman. Emery has guided Villa to Europa League glory and is in active talks to extend his stay beyond 2029, the year his current deal expires. Chants of "10 more years, 10 more years, Unai Emery" were heard from the away end on Sunday. Appointing Emery would have involved a huge compensation package, as he is under contract and earning £12 million a year.
Didier Deschamps, the France hero who has won the World Cup as a player and manager, remains unattached after leaving Les Bleus following this summer's tournament. United contacted his team about taking over, but the response was immediate. Deschamps rejected the chance, citing a preference to continue his break from club management, having last managed Marseille in 2012, and the general disorder at United. The 58-year-old also has one eye on the Real Madrid job should Jose Mourinho slip up.
Hurzeler Committed to Brighton
Fabian Hurzeler, whose Brighton side sit second in the Premier League, was linked with the United job in October when Carrick was on the brink. A member of United's board reportedly 'can't stop talking' about him and put his name forward as a leading candidate. However, Hurzeler firmly rejected any notion of leaving the Amex Stadium, and there is no release clause in his Brighton contract.
"I'm fully focused on my job here," Hurzeler said last month. "I've got no time to think about these rumours because we play every three days. I'm really privileged to be here. I'm part of a journey and I still have this feeling when I go to bed that we are not finished with our journey." He added: "It's a people business. Making a people business out of this pressure business is something I don't take for granted and something I won't throw away that fast."
Hurzeler also offered support for Carrick, saying: "I have a lot of respect for Michael Carrick and the job he has done at Manchester United the last season. He's a great human being, a great personality, and I really respect him."
