Michael Carrick could lose his job at Man Utd as a new possible manager comes into the picture.
Michael Carrick reportedly has just one game left to prove himself after Manchester United’s tough 3-0 loss to Bournemouth. Despite a rough start this season with only one Premier League win — against Ipswich Town back in August — he hasn’t been let go yet.
It’s been a hard week for Carrick. First, United lost 4-1 to Como, a Serie A team. Then, just four days later, they were defeated 3-0 by Bournemouth at home. Earlier this week, Carrick met with the club’s leaders, who decided to give him a chance to stay on for the upcoming match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 31.
Ben Jacobs from GiveMeSport reports that if Carrick can get a good result against Chelsea, he might be kept on for future games against Roma and Aston Villa before the international break. But if not, he could be replaced, with several managers being considered for the job.
“Michael Carrick is still under pressure,” Jacobs said. “If he performs well against Chelsea, he’ll probably have a couple more matches. Otherwise, he might be out.”
Some names linked to the Manchester United job include former Newcastle coach Eddie Howe, who’s currently free and interested, and Antonio Conte, who used to manage Tottenham and Chelsea. Aston Villa’s Unai Emery is also well thought of but would be tough to bring in because United would have to pay a big compensation fee — around £20 million.
Jacobs noted, “Eddie Howe is a free agent, but there’s a small compensation fee to Newcastle. Nagelsmann is also in talks, along with Conte, Cesc Fabregas, Unai Emery, and Fabian Hurzeler.”
Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler probably won’t leave mid-season, and Emery might need convincing since he’s doing great at Villa and enjoys a lot of control there. “Manchester United is a different kind of project, and Emery would have to be convinced, plus there’s compensation to sort out,” Jacobs added.
Right now, it seems Eddie Howe could be the top choice if a change happens, but for now, the club is backing Carrick.
Interestingly, Cesc Fabregas, who surprisingly hasn’t been linked before, could excite fans. His Como team recently beat United in the Champions League. Fabregas has a solid start to his coaching career—he helped Como qualify for the Champions League last season and was an assistant coach during their promotion campaign.
If Fabregas were to join United, he’d likely want strong support from the club and new players who fit his attacking style.
Speaking of players, two Como stars are attracting attention from big clubs, including United. Midfielder Nico Paz, a 22-year-old born in Spain but playing for Argentina, has been key for Como after moving from Real Madrid in 2024. Real Madrid holds a buy-back clause for him worth €9 million (£7.5 million), but some reports say that could rise to €80 million (£66.9 million) before 2027.
Another player, 21-year-old center-back Jacob Ramon, also from Real Madrid, has made 12 appearances and scored 3 goals for Como. Real can re-sign him next summer for £7.7 million and also holds a 50% sell-on clause, meaning they’d still get money if they don’t bring him back. Chelsea and Arsenal are also interested in him.
Here are the latest betting odds for the next Manchester United manager, according to Oddschecker:
– Eddie Howe — 8/11
– Julian Nagelsmann — 5/2
– Antonio Conte — 5/1
– Unai Emery — 9/1
– Kieran McKenna — 22/1
– Cesc Fàbregas — 25/1
– Gareth Southgate — 25/1
– Mauricio Pochettino — 33/1
– Ole Gunnar Solskjær — 33/1
– Darren Fletcher — 33/1
For now, though, all eyes are on Carrick and that crucial game at Chelsea.