Man United eyeing former Arsenal boss as potential Carrick replacement

Man United eyeing former Arsenal boss as potential Carrick replacement Manchester United Manager Search Intensifies as Unai Emery Emerges Among Leading Targets Manchester United are approaching another significant decision in the dugout, with pressure mounting on Michael Carrick after a run that has sharpened scrutiny around Old Trafford. According to iNews , Unai Emery is among the names admired internally if United choose to act. The backdrop is damaging. United’s seven-game winless streak has deepened concern, and the 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League has heightened the sense that this situation is moving towards a breaking point. The report states Carrick is “on the brink at Old Trafford after their Champions League humiliation at Como”, a line that captures the severity of the current mood. There is also mention of dressing-room unease. Bruno Fernandes’ post-match comments are said to have revealed “unrest in the dressing room”, with criticism of Carrick’s tactics only adding to the sense that United’s hierarchy may soon be forced into a call they had hoped to avoid. Unai Emery admired by Manchester United hierarchy Emery’s name stands out because he offers proven Premier League and European pedigree, along with a recent body of work that compares favourably with almost anything United have produced in the same period. The report says “Emery, who led Villa to the Europa League title and qualifying for the Champions League, has plenty of admirers among the Old Trafford hierarchy”. That interest is not difficult to understand. His spell at Aston Villa has been defined by elite coaching, clear structure and high-level overachievement. The source also notes how those at United observed “how he was forced to rip up and rebuild his squad in a summer spent wrangling with financial fair play regulations.” In other words, this is a coach who has shown he can manage disruption, reshape a squad and still maintain standards. Photo IMAGO Emery’s record is laid out starkly. His “superb record at Villa Park has seen him deliver two fourth-placed finishes and also a Champions League quarter-final”. For a United ownership group and executive structure searching for credibility in their next move, that profile carries obvious appeal. The complication is equally clear. “Sources close to him have suggested he is absolutely committed to Villa,” which immediately makes any pursuit difficult. Still, the same report adds that “there would undoubtedly be interest from the Old Trafford hierarchy in the Spaniard if Carrick leaves.” Admiration exists, even if accessibility remains another question entirely. Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe in frame If United move for an out-of-work candidate, Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe are firmly in the conversation. Conte’s availability always commands attention. The report describes him as a manager whose “direct, authoritarian approach would be a direct contrast to Carrick’s more collegiate philosophy.” There is no doubt over the calibre of his CV, and it is also stated that “The Italian is understood to be keen on the role”. Yet there are familiar reservations. Conte’s intensity can drive standards quickly, but concerns persist over whether that profile is the cleanest fit for the environment at Old Trafford. Those worries are underlined by Ashley Young’s view that such an appointment had the potential to be a “disaster”. Howe is presented differently, perhaps more as the logical operator in the market. The report says he is “the current bookmakers’ favourite and, perhaps, the most sensible choice.” His stock remains high after ending Newcastle United’s trophy drought and leading them into two Champions League campaigns. There are caveats here too. It is reported that Howe “would only take a job that feels the right ‘fit’.” That wording matters. It points towards wider structural demands, particularly around recruitment and football operations. The same piece says he “would want influence in recruitment decisions” and that any talks would likely touch on the role of Jason Wilcox. Kieran McKenna and Fabian Hurzeler remain alternatives Kieran McKenna also features in the thinking. He is “understood to be interested”, which gives United another option with strong developmental credentials and previous ties to the club. The source says his “influence is understood to show up well across data metrics”, an increasingly relevant factor in modern recruitment at executive level. Fabian Hurzeler is another manager on the radar, although the challenge there is obvious. Brighton are thriving, and persuading a coach to leave a stable, upward-moving project for one surrounded by turbulence is never straightforward. As the report puts it, that “sales pitch may fall on deaf ears.” For now, this remains a live and delicate situation. Carrick has not gone, but the tone of the reporting suggests Manchester United are assessing the market with growing seriousness. Emery is admired, Howe offers logic, Conte brings pedigree, and McKenna remains relevant. The next step depends on whether United decide the current trajectory is recoverable, or whether another reset has become unavoidable. Our View This feels like one of those moments where the club simply has to get the next call right. There has been too much drift, too much noise, and too many resets that have led nowhere. Reading that Unai Emery is admired makes complete sense because he looks like a proper builder. He improves players, creates structure and gives teams an identity. That is exactly what has been missing. The difficulty, of course, is whether someone in that position would actually leave a strong project for this one. If he is “absolutely committed to Villa”, then United may be looking at an ideal candidate rather than a realistic one. Even so, the fact his profile is being considered should tell everyone what level the club need to target. Eddie Howe feels more attainable and, in many ways, more sensible. The line about the right “fit” is encouraging because United need a manager who sees the bigger picture and demands proper conditions. That has to include recruitment, sporting structure and accountability above the head coach. What matters most now is clarity. If Carrick has lost the dressing room, dragging it out would only make things worse. If there is still a route back, results need to show it immediately. Supporters can accept difficult periods, but they need to see a plan. Right now, a coach like Emery or Howe sounds far closer to one than what is currently unfolding.