Man Utd chiefs at odds over hiring “genius” title-winning manager who wants the job

Man United still have Michael Carrick in charge and he will lead them into Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, but beyond that, uncertainty lingers.

Monday’s discussions between chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox resulted in the decision to keep him on, at least for now, and Carrick was back at the training this morning as murmurs over his future continue to rumble on.

REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

His position remains precarious after Bournemouth won 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with United having collected a meagre seven points from eight Premier League matches and only one point clear of the relegation zone.

Their troubles stretch beyond domestic football, too.

Como’s 4-1 Champions League victory over United last week added to a run that has now reached eight games without a win.

Eddie Howe has emerged as a serious contender, and his work at Bournemouth and Newcastle gives him the English football experience that appeals to Wilcox.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also reported to favour an English coach, which could help Howe’s case. However, leaving Newcastle in the summer does not necessarily make him a straightforward appointment.

According to reports, United could still face a hefty compensation bill to secure him because of the terms surrounding his Newcastle departure.

Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Antonio Conte is another name under consideration, but questions linger over how he would fit United’s existing structure.

Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler has also been linked, but the media suggest he is not interested in taking the job.

With several routes being explored, the people choosing Carrick’s potential replacement also have to agree on what they want, and Julian Nagelsmann has an influential ally inside the club.

Julian Nagelsmann keen on Man United job as Vivell and Wilcox favour different options

Journalist Pete Hall reports for The i Paper that United head of recruitment Christopher Vivell personally wants Nagelsmann.

The Old Trafford chief knows his work from their time together at RB Leipzig, and Nagelsmann is also interested in the job, giving Vivell a willing candidate to champion as United consider how to recover from their latest slump.

However, Hall also says Wilcox would need persuading to choose Nagelsmann, as he is looking for a manager with Premier League experience, which strengthens Howe’s position.

Their priorities point in different directions, leaving Nagelsmann with support to build on but an important decision maker still to win over.

Nagelsmann is still only 39, but his CV already includes stints at Hoffenheim, Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Germany’s national team.

The ‘genius‘ tactician won the Bundesliga with Bayern in 2022, giving United a candidate who has handled the expectations attached to a major club, and Vivell’s familiarity with him could help United assess how he works, what he expects and whether their squad would suit his ideas.

His departure from Germany’s national team in July also gives him a route back into club management, and United could offer the next chapter, provided they decide he fits.

Carrick faces the immediate task of lifting his players.

United’s next appointment, whenever it comes, needs a clear plan that the people running football operations can support.