Alan Shearer has identified three potential successors to Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager, while former boss Erik ten Hag has revealed he was prevented from signing several top players during his time at Old Trafford.
United remain winless since their Champions League opener against Sabah more than a month ago and have just one victory in seven league outings. A weekend draw with Leeds United left the club in the bottom half of the Premier League table, keeping the pressure on Carrick in his first full season in charge.
Shearer's three replacements
Former England captain Alan Shearer has named Fabian Hurzeler at the head of his list of three potential successors if United sack Carrick. While he recognises the change of environment would be a considerable one, the 56-year-old has backed the Premier League's youngest boss to succeed.
"If Carrick is relieved of his duties, Hurzeler would be a good replacement, but it's a very different model at Brighton," Shearer told Betfair. "I guess the manager you'd also look at is Eddie Howe."
"You'd look at Antonio Conte as well, but you know, whether you like it or not, that's what happens when you're not winning football matches and when you're at one of the biggest clubs in the world so you have to accept that, and I'm pretty sure he does."
Shearer's comments came before the weekend's fixtures, when United drew at Leeds and Hurzeler's Brighton put five goals past Crystal Palace. Brighton have also won four of their six games against United since Hurzeler took over in 2024, including a come-from-behind Carabao Cup victory in September.
Ten Hag's transfer regrets
Erik ten Hag has claimed he was prevented from signing a number of top players during his time at Old Trafford. Among them are England pair Declan Rice and Harry Kane, both of whom moved for big money in 2023, and Barcelona and Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
"I said to them [the United board], 'I want only one player — and you know who'," Ten Hag told The Athletic, referring to Kane. "I fought for it. I heard that he was very positive, but I never spoke with him about the issue.
"I don't know how the decision process went with John [Murtough], Richard [Arnold], the Glazers. They came to the conclusion. I don't have the insights in the financials."
On Rice, who eventually left West Ham for Arsenal for a Premier League record sum of £100m, he said: "The issue was that West Ham didn't want to let him go. I think we could have done more to test. We were on one page, they tried, but I don't know how the process went. The point is, at United you need outstanding players."
United face Como in an early kick-off on Wednesday, after which they round off the month with league games against Bournemouth and Chelsea. The trip to Italy has been given extra spice by the publication of Ten Hag's interview, with the Dutchman having been the last manager to deliver a trophy while in charge of the club.
