Man Utd information: Michael Carrick sack newest as substitute ‘contacted’ amid switch replace
Manchester United are winless in four matches as Michael Carrick fights to save his job with a daunting Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid ahead and a replacement ‘contacted’
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is under pressure
Michael Carrick is fighting to save his job at Manchester United as pressure mounts on the manager after a terrible start to the season.
Carrick’s struggling Red Devils have failed to secure a win in their four matches since kicking off the European league phase with a 4-0 triumph over Azerbaijani minnows Sabah. They are slumped in 13th place in the Premier League, level on points with newly-promoted Coventry City but only ahead of them on goal difference, having been dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton. Meanwhile, their summer signings are yet to make a positive impact.
United threw away a win at the weekend when they conceded a stoppage time equaliser to draw 1-1 with 10-man Tottenham, who at the time were bottom of the division. Adding to Carrick’s woes, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are injury concerns for the Atletico match, while Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui and long-term casualty Manuel Ugarte all remain absent. Here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford, including the frontrunner to replace Carrick if he is sacked.
Michael Carrick may not have long left to turns things around at Manchester United(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Michael Carrick replacement shortlist frontrunner
Antonio Conte is reportedly leading United’s managerial shortlist should the club decide to part ways with Carrick, according to Italian media.
Serial winner Conte, who lifted the Premier League with Chelsea, is currently without a club after departing Napoli at the end of last season and has expressed interest in taking up the reins at a struggling giant, reports the Mirror.
According to Calciomercato IT, United have established ‘initial contact’ with Conte’s representatives and are evaluating his appetite for the position, should it become vacant.
Antonio Conte(Image: Getty Images)
While there’s also rumoured interest from Juventus, where Conte was in charge between 2011 and 2014 and won three consecutive Serie A titles, the United post is believed to appeal more to the 57 year old.
Speaking to The Athletic recently, Conte – who has also won Italy’s top flight with Inter Milan and Napoli – dropped an intriguing hint about his next move.
He said: “If you go to a club where the history speaks for itself – a history made up of trophies, league titles and victories – you can only honour that history in one way: by having the ambition to bring that club back, if it isn’t there today, to fight for those goals.”
Star nears transfer
Manchester United youth prospect JJ Gabriel is free to sign for another club(Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Real Madrid are becoming increasingly optimistic about securing disgruntled youngster JJ Gabriel.
The 16-year-old prodigy, who had been on the verge of his senior breakthrough, stunned United last month by requesting the club release him following approaches from the likes of Real, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
While United can prevent him from switching to another Premier League side this season, given his EU passport, there exists a pathway for him to join a European outfit.
According to Madrid-based journalist Jose Felix Diaz, a final verdict on Gabriel is imminent, with Los Blancos convinced they’re frontrunners to secure the teenager, who has made La Liga his preferred destination.
There appears to be an increasing consensus at United that Gabriel will soon depart.
When questioned last week about any changes during the international break, Carrick responded: “No, nothing’s changed at all.”
