Manchester United Sound Out Antonio Conte Amid Carrick Pressure
Manchester United have sounded out Antonio Conte as pressure builds on Michael Carrick after a damaging start to the 2026-27 season, with the Italian now viewed as the leading candidate should the club make a change.
Key points
| Item | Detail | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Potential successor | Antonio Conte, 57 | United have made preliminary checks on his availability |
| Recent setback | Brighton defeat | United surrendered a 2-0 home lead for the first time in 50 years |
| Next league match | Tottenham Hotspur, home | Played after the three-week international break |
| European test | Atletico Madrid, away | Champions League tie three days after Spurs visit |
Conte is without a club following his Napoli exit at the end of last season. The former Chelsea and Tottenham manager had been linked with a possible Italy return, but Roberto Mancini has taken that role, leaving a Premier League comeback firmly in play.
United had expected Carrick’s first full campaign in permanent charge to build on last season’s encouraging second half. Summer recruitment was intended to push the side forward, but defeats to Hull City, Manchester City and Brighton have left the team short of momentum.
Wins at Old Trafford against promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League outsiders Sabah offered little relief from the wider concern over results and performances.
The Brighton loss has intensified attention on Carrick. United had not previously lost a home game after establishing a 2-0 advantage in five decades, making the collapse a particularly severe blow for the current manager.
Carrick now has the international break to find a response before a pivotal week. United welcome bottom club Tottenham, whose coach Roberto De Zerbi is also facing increasing scrutiny, before travelling to Spain to meet Atletico Madrid.
What happens next is likely to hinge on those two games. Failure to beat a struggling Spurs side, followed by another poor result in Madrid, could accelerate United’s move for Conte.
