Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick may find his position increasingly precarious without an immediate upturn in results. Tuesday's Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid has left United with just two victories from nine matches this campaign. As a result, Sunday's meeting with rivals Leeds could prove pivotal for the Old Trafford boss.
United have already suffered their worst start to a league season in four decades, yet matters could deteriorate further. Speculation is rife regarding potential successors should Carrick be dismissed.
Conte 'gives green light' to United
Antonio Conte would reportedly be willing to take control at United if given the opportunity. Italian outlet Calciomercato claim Conte would accept the role and is awaiting an approach as Carrick's situation worsens.
The former Chelsea manager, who won the Premier League with the Blues in 2017, remains without a club following his departure from Napoli at the end of last season. Conte, 57, won the Serie A title in Naples in 2025 before tensions within the club prompted his departure.
According to talkSPORT, Conte stands among the leading contenders in free agency to take charge should Carrick face the axe. Former Germany and Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann represents the other leading candidate currently without a club.
Despite his prior success in England, United face a degree of uncertainty regarding Conte. His tenures at both Chelsea and Tottenham ended on a sour note, and the Italian might be better suited to taking charge between seasons, allowing him to implement a full pre-season programme.
Hurzeler tipped as 'the real deal'
United legend Paul Scholes has described Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler as someone who "looks the real deal" amid growing speculation linking him to Old Trafford. The German tactician, who has already eliminated United from the Carabao Cup this season, is regarded as one of several prominent candidates for the role.
Hurzeler made history as the youngest head coach in Premier League history when he took charge of Brighton two years ago at just 31. The former St. Pauli manager has guided the Seagulls to back-to-back eighth-place finishes in the top flight, fuelling speculation that he is prepared for a significant step up.
"He's done great. He looks the real deal," said Scholes on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast. "But again, Man United is different. The scrutiny is on you every single week. If Brighton didn't win a game for the next 10 games, nobody would really be that bothered."
He went on to say: "The one thing that someone like Hurzeler has got over Michael is that he's done a body of work in the Premier League. Michael did okay in Middlesbrough with what he had. I think Middlesbrough were probably expecting more with the budget they had."
Scholes even hinted that Carrick himself might be eager to part ways with his current club following the recent dip in form, suggesting his former team-mate could be considering "I'll take a few quid" as an opportunity to make a fresh start elsewhere.
