Michael Carrick has been able to shrug off the noise around his Manchester United future for now, but the scrutiny on him is already significant. A difficult start to the 2026/27 season has eroded the stability he brought after returning in January, and the mood around the club can change quickly.

United have often felt only a few poor results away from a crisis, and that tension could intensify if performances do not improve after the break. Tottenham Hotspur visit the Theatre of Dreams on Oct. 10, a fixture that could sharpen the focus even further. There is no clear indication that Carrick is under immediate threat, yet the possibility of another change in the dugout cannot be dismissed if results continue to disappoint.

If INEOS were ever pushed toward that route, there are several names that would come into view.

Eddie Howe remains an obvious point of discussion. He left Newcastle United in the summer after deciding he no longer had the energy to guide them through a rebuild following their exodus. His work there was widely admired, with Newcastle moving away from danger and back into Europe, reaching the Champions League twice and winning the League Cup in 2025. Even so, some will wonder whether he is suited to the unmatched pressure that comes with Old Trafford.

Julian Nagelsmann, once regarded as one of the game’s brightest coaching minds, has seen his reputation cool after mixed spells at Bayern Munich and with the German national team, whose 2026 World Cup ended badly. His link with Christopher Vivell could keep him in the conversation.

Fabian Hürzeler is also drawing attention after Brighton & Hove Albion’s 3–0 win over Arsenal and an encouraging start to his third season in charge. His work and his ideas have made him increasingly prominent.

Unai Emery has shown before how he can manage a rebuild, and at Aston Villa he is again handling a major turnover. The links to United remain limited, though he would require major convincing to leave.

Cesc Fábregas, meanwhile, continues to stand out through the alignment between him and the Como hierarchy, with his rise in management gathering pace.

Mikel Arteta’s renewed deal underlines Arsenal’s ambition, but the manager is only one part of the club’s wider project. After opening the defence of their Premier League title with a win over Manchester City in the Community Shield, Arteta spoke with clear conviction about what drives him. “I feel good, different, hopefully better. More excited than ever. Hungrier than ever,” he said.

For the decision makers in north London, the next task is not simply about the dugout. With Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel already rewarded with improved terms since the summer of 2025, attention now turns to the remaining core of the squad. Securing that group would further strengthen the stability around a side that is trying to stay at the top.

Martin Ødegaard stands out as one of the most important names still needing clarity, with his current deal running until 2028. It is notable how quickly perceptions around him have changed. Some supporters had once questioned whether he should remain at the club, yet his status has grown again through a difficult but ultimately productive period.

Last season was interrupted by injuries, leaving him short of rhythm, but he still ended the title-winning campaign as Arsenal’s leading assist provider in the Premier League. This summer has only reinforced his importance. A strong World Cup with Norway and a powerful start to the club season have helped settle any remaining doubts.

Arteta has made his view plain. Ødegaard has “a point to prove,” according to the manager. “I sensed from the first day that he joined [in preseason] that he has something else in the belly that he wants to prove and show.”

His commitment has also been shown away from the main stage. After returning from the States, Ødegaard used the gym of a local school to stay sharp before he even came back into Arsenal action.

What makes him especially valuable is not limited to his technical quality. He connects the squad with the coaching staff, acts as Arteta’s voice on the pitch and serves as the players’ link into the manager’s office. For Arsenal, that combination remains hard to replace.

If the goal is to preserve the standards built under Arteta, Ødegaard’s case is a compelling one.

Wayne Rooney has said the growing uncertainty around JJ Gabriel at Manchester United was not unexpected, insisting that those close to the academy scene could see the situation developing.

The 15-year-old has been at the centre of major attention after spending only eight minutes on the pitch during pre-season and missing out on the Champions League roster because he needed ‘List A’ status due to his age. On the same day United began their league phase with a 4-0 win over Sabah at Old Trafford, Gabriel struck a hat-trick against Sabah’s U-19s in the UEFA Youth League.

Since then, he has not trained, and reports of his wish to leave emerged the day before United faced Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup third round last week. It was also suggested that there had been plans to include him in that squad with an eye on a debut.

Rooney addressed the issue on the latest episode of Stick to United, saying he has seen “JJ grow up” because his own teenage son, Kai, has been involved in the same academy teams. He added that the reaction from outside observers should not have come as a shock.

“But, Rooney said, Aanyone close to it knew that was coming.”

United can challenge the request for Gabriel’s registration to be cancelled, although by the end of the season he would be free to leave anyway. A move abroad could come sooner, with his 16th birthday next month potentially opening the door to Spain or another European Union state. Real Madrid and Barcelona are strongly linked, while Bayern Munich are also said to be interested.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea would have to wait until the summer unless United decide otherwise, which appears unlikely.

Rooney also defended the club’s handling of the youngster, saying, “In fairness to Manchester United they have done everything, absolutely everything, to keep him at the club,” before adding that special treatment is part of managing exceptional talent.

“The club have treated him probably differently to the other players because he is such a special player. I know, I recognize that, because I was that player at Everton. I was getting that treatment at Everton,” he reflected. “As a club, you need to do [it] to try to keep the better players. It’s disappointing because [Gabriel] is such a top player and a lovely kid.”

Gabriel is viewed as a generational talent, even if he cannot legally drive in the U.K. for another year.