Michael Carrick’s fairy tale return to Manchester United is rapidly unravelling into an Old Trafford nightmare. After a spectacular interim spell last season that secured a third-place finish and Champions League football, the wheels have completely come off for the former midfielder in the 2026/27 campaign.
A humbling 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como was quickly followed by a miserable 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on Sunday, stretching United’s winless run to eight games across all competitions.
Languishing in 16th place on the Premier League table and sitting just a single point above the relegation zone, Carrick’s position has become entirely untenable. With minority owners Ineos and director of football Jason Wilcox actively assessing their options, the sack race market is heavily backed.
Punters are heavily backing a managerial change before the upcoming clash with Chelsea. Here is a look at the leading candidates tipped to replace him, analysed through a betting lens.
Eddie Howe: the market leader (6/4 favourite)
Eddie Howe has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the betting markets, heavily backed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and director of football Jason Wilcox. Having resigned from his post at Newcastle United in July, Howe is currently a free agent, meaning Manchester United would not have to fork out any expensive compensation packages to secure his services.
Wilcox is understood to highly value Howe’s extensive Premier League pedigree, making him a incredibly stable choice to fix a leaking ship. Given his availability and deep appreciation within the Ineos boardroom, the short price of 6/4 reflects a high probability that Howe will be the man the hierarchy turns to first.
Julian Nagelsmann: the elite tactician (3/1)
For bettors looking for a candidate with true elite tier European pedigree, Julian Nagelsmann represents immense value at 3/1. The former Bayern Munich boss is out of work following a disappointing World Cup campaign with Germany, which ended in a shock round-of-32 exit to Paraguay.
Nagelsmann is an exceptionally strong candidate due to his existing relationship with United’s head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, after the pair worked closely together during a highly successful stint at RB Leipzig. If Ineos decides to pivot away from domestic experience in favour of a modern, structurally progressive tactician, Nagelsmann’s odds will tumble fast.
Antonio Conte: the proven winner (6/1)
If the United hierarchy decides that the current squad requires a ruthless disciplinarian to shock them out of their current slump, Antonio Conte is the ultimate option on the board at 6/1. The Italian manager is currently available after leaving Napoli in the summer and is reportedly very open to holding formal talks with the Old Trafford decision-makers.
Conte offers a guaranteed track record of domestic league titles with Chelsea, Juventus, and Inter Milan. While his volatile nature makes him a high-risk long-term option for the boardroom, he represents a fascinating outside bet for punters who believe United need an immediate, short-term competitive spark.
Kieran McKenna: the narrative outsider (12/1)
A longer-priced dark horse in the market is former Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, currently sitting at around 12/1. McKenna is well-known to the Old Trafford faithful, having previously served as a first-team coach under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He deeply impressed the United hierarchy during exploratory talks in the summer of 2024 before the club ultimately decided to stick with Erik ten Hag.
While he is less heavily linked than Howe or Nagelsmann in the immediate fallout of the Bournemouth disaster, his deep understanding of the club’s inner workings makes him an intriguing outsider bet if the primary targets fall through.
