Carrick's Honeymoon Over: Man Utd Eye Three Fresh Managerial Targets

Michael Carrick's early promise at Old Trafford has apparently done little to convince Manchester United's hierarchy that he should remain as permanent manager beyond this season.

The former Middlesbrough boss was installed as interim replacement for Ruben Amorim at the start of 2026, and made an eye-catching entrance to the role. Six wins from his first seven matches suggested the club had stumbled upon an unlikely solution—a proper shake-up of tactics, a switch to four at the back, and suddenly key players were operating in their natural positions. The improvement was tangible.

Yet that promising trajectory has stalled. Newcastle's 2-1 victory on Wednesday night, achieved with ten men no less, punctured the narrative somewhat. Before that came unconvincing showings against Crystal Palace and West Ham, suggesting the initial sparkle may have been more mirage than substance.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on the United Stand, Carrick cannot be considered the frontrunner for the job going forward. The landscape has shifted, with INEOS apparently keen to explore alternatives rather than stick with the obvious candidate.

Three names are now being seriously discussed: Roberto De Zerbi tops the list, alongside Julian Nagelsmann and Roberto Martinez. Both Mauricio Pochettino and Kieran McKenna retain admiration from the club's decision-makers, though neither is expected to lead the race.

Nagelsmann, currently managing Germany, has expressed genuine interest in the Manchester United position and has been "thrust into the mix" as a serious candidate. However, complications abound. INEOS are reportedly reluctant to appoint a manager without Premier League experience, and while Nagelsmann's credentials are being weighed, insiders have stressed that English football know-how remains a crucial factor in their search.

The same concern applies to Niko Kovac and others on the periphery—impressive on paper, perhaps, but lacking that crucial domestic pedigree the club appears to value.