Next Man United manager: the leading candidates to replace Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is approaching the point of no return in the Manchester United dugout. Wednesday's 4-1 Champions League defeat away to Como left the club suffering its worst start to a season in 40 years and piled pressure on the English coach heading into Sunday's home match against Bournemouth. United go into that fixture without a win in seven games across all competitions.

• Carrick will remain in charge to face Bournemouth, but his position is hanging by a thread.
• The board has already discussed possible replacements after the sackings of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
• Eddie Howe, out of work since leaving Newcastle in the summer, is the clear favourite with the bookmakers.
• Bruno Fernandes' criticism of the tactics has worsened the mood in the dressing room.
• Ineos are already looking for their fourth permanent manager in three years of running football operations.

Eddie Howe, the bookmakers' favourite for the Manchester United job

The 48-year-old has been available since making the shock decision to walk away from Newcastle United in the summer, saying he needed a break from management. Three months on, the chance to take over at Old Trafford would surely prove too tempting if an offer arrived. Howe remains highly regarded in English football after picking up a Newcastle side in the relegation zone and guiding them to their best Premier League finish in two decades, while also delivering the club's first domestic trophy in 70 years.

Howe twice led Newcastle into the Champions League with an energetic, high-intensity style of play that would go down well at Old Trafford. The betting markets currently place him at the top of the shortlist.

Fabian Hurzeler, the Brighton revelation admired at Old Trafford

Brighton have been the surprise package of the Premier League season and the reputation of their 33-year-old coach is growing fast. Hurzeler has turned the Seagulls into a side capable of going toe-to-toe with the country's biggest clubs. The 3-0 win over champions Arsenal was a masterclass in modern coaching, and Brighton also knocked United out of the Carabao Cup with a brilliant 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.

Hurzeler is admired inside Old Trafford, but prising him away would not be straightforward. Brighton would demand significant compensation for the highly-rated German, and United may not have the cash. He has also benefited from a stable working environment on the south coast that bears little resemblance to the constant noise in Manchester.

Julian Nagelsmann, a summer option that returns after the World Cup

The former wunderkind of German coaching was already on United's radar when Ruben Amorim was dismissed at the start of the year, though at the time he was seen as a target for the summer after the World Cup. That tournament turned into a disaster for Germany, knocked out in the last 32 by Paraguay. Nagelsmann, 39, would naturally be interested in managing United, and the previous working relationship between Christopher Vivell, the club's director of recruitment, and the coach at Red Bull could smooth the way.

Unai Emery, a secure project at Aston Villa that United may not afford

The Spaniard has done a superb job at Aston Villa, securing Champions League qualification and ending the club's trophy drought with victory in the Europa League. But the rebuild at Villa Park is only in its early stages and Emery enjoys complete control over his project, a reality he is unlikely to find at Old Trafford. Under contract until 2029, he would also require United to pay compensation to Villa, which may place him above their budget.

Antonio Conte, instant intensity with a built-in expiry date

The appeal of the combustible Italian has grown while United have been accused of becoming too passive and pedestrian. Conte is one of the most demanding coaches in the game and would immediately bring the urgency that has been missing this season. His CV commands respect: Serie A titles at Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, plus a Premier League crown with Chelsea. He also improved a floundering Tottenham in his first season and led them back into the Champions League.

The problems tend to follow later. The 57-year-old has a sharp tongue and is not afraid to criticise his bosses when he feels unsupported. His Tottenham exit in March 2023 came after a scathing press conference in which he tore into the club. Hiring him would mean playing with fire, though managers of Conte's calibre are few and far between.

Cesc Fabregas and the ex-player route back to the United badge

The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder is building a reputation as one of Europe's brightest young coaches, as his brilliant Como side showed by thrashing United in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Spaniard appears committed to his project in northern Italy, and he also has a financial incentive to continue leading Como in their debut Champions League campaign because he owns a stake in the Serie A club. With his stock rising, Fabregas may prefer a patient approach to his next move, which could eventually lead him back to a former club such as Barcelona.

Then there is the well-worn path of turning to former players. Before Carrick stepped into the breach in January, Under-18s manager Darren Fletcher oversaw the draw with Burnley and the FA Cup third-round defeat to Brighton. Before him, Ruud van Nistelrooy held the reins between Erik ten Hag's dismissal and Amorim's appointment, and further back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer went through the same boom-and-bust cycle that Carrick is now experiencing. There is no shortage of former United players available to remind an underperforming dressing room of the weight of the badge, and it may be time for Fletcher to give Sir Alex Ferguson another call.