Michael Carrick’s position at Old Trafford is said to be under serious strain, with Manchester United already sounding out possible successors should they decide to make a change. The situation is not yet settled, but the club are understood to have assembled a six-man shortlist, even if some of the names involved may prove unrealistic.

There is also reported disagreement behind the scenes. Technical director Jason Wilcox and recruitment chief Christopher Vivell are said to favour different options, adding another layer to a search that is already complicated by the status of several leading candidates.

Fabian Hürzeler was one of the first names to surface, and his bright start to the season with Brighton & Hove Albion has only strengthened that link. Yet optimism around a move is limited. Reports have suggested he could be United’s preferred choice, but doubts remain over whether he would accept the role, while The Telegraph recently stated it would take a “world-record fee” to persuade Brighton & Hove Albion to end his contract.

Antonio Conte has also been in the frame from the outset. Some Italian reports were quick to place him at the top of the list, though Conte has denied any current contact. He is, however, available immediately and is still seen as a serious contender.

Kieran McKenna has been discussed for months without the idea really advancing. His Old Trafford background makes him an obvious name, having worked in several roles there before his successful spell at Ipswich Town. He is currently free to take a new job.

Eddie Howe remains another strong option. Wilcox is believed to favour him, and his Premier League track record is admired. The concern is whether he is ready for the demands that come with Old Trafford.

Julian Nagelsmann is also being monitored. Vivell’s past connection with him is well known, and his experience at Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich gives him a strong case. United looked at him in May, and his status as a “leading candidate” has resurfaced.

Unai Emery has been mentioned too, with some reports placing him at the top of the wish list.

Wayne Rooney has launched a sharp attack on Manchester United pair Lisandro Martínez and Bruno Fernandes after their recent criticism of the club, describing their conduct as damaging and accusing them of shifting responsibility on to others.

The former United striker said the situation has only added to the pressure around Carrick, and he argued that the latest comments from inside the squad have exposed a deeper problem at Old Trafford.

“When Martínez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart, and that was the start,” he told The United Stand . “We’ve seen it now with Bruno and you’re going to see it with more players. The reason why is because them players, they don’t want to take responsibility.

“You can say whether Bruno was right or wrong in what he said, but you have to take responsibility on the pitch, you have to take responsibility as a group of players and never mind who your manager was. There were times when me and Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t talk, but I’d run through a brick wall for him on the pitch because I want to play for myself, I want to play for the club, I want to play for the fans.

“These players, they’re selfish. They care about themselves, they don’t care about their teammates, don’t care about the manager, about the staff or the fans, they care about themselves.

“If they’re not getting what’s right for them … they’re like babies and just throwing their toys out of the pram and go and try and deflect the blame on to anyone else but themselves. They have to look at themselves. If they’ve looked at themselves, if they’re honest with themselves, then start looking at other people.”

Rooney also said the squad has enough ability to do better, but insisted the players must prove it on the pitch rather than speak publicly.

“Martínez, for instance, as much as the fans will agree and say, ‘oh yeah, this is brilliant, he’s coming out and speaking against the club,’ he’s doing it to take heat off himself,” Rooney continued.

“Bruno, he’s having probably the worst run of form he’s had since he’s been at the club and again, it’s no coincidence, he’s putting pressure on someone else because he doesn’t want to face it. He doesn’t want to deal with it himself.

“If he looks at himself in the mirror, if Martínez looks himself in the mirror, all the players … they’ll find what is looking back at them is them and it’s not good enough. They need to show more. ]

Michael Carrick remains in charge for now despite Manchester United’s poor start to the 2026/27 campaign, with the club deciding not to act after another damaging result.

United are winless in their last seven matches in all competitions and have managed only two victories this season, both against recently promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League debutants Sabah. Under the circumstances, some past managers have been removed for less, yet Carrick was still at work on Thursday morning.

According to the Daily Mail, it is “business as usual” for the manager, who is expected to hold his regular pregame press conference on Friday ahead of the league meeting with Bournemouth. That will inevitably bring more questions about his future, along with any further reaction to Bruno Fernandes’s incendiary remarks about the side’s tactics in the heavy defeat to Como.

From the outside, the impression is that the club still believes Carrick can recover the situation, even with results deteriorating and public criticism coming from figures such as Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez. United’s decision not to sever ties after Wednesday’s Champions League setback suggests that backing remains in place, at least for the short term.

There may also be a practical reason for holding off. The Daily Mail reports that the delay “buys United time” to line up a successor. Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann are among the latest names linked with the role, while Fabian Hürzeler has also been mentioned.

Any change would be a significant one, with a new appointment becoming the club’s eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013.

For Carrick and United, the fixture list offers little relief. Bournemouth arrive first, and the club has failed to beat them in their last six meetings. That is followed by a trip to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea will sense an opportunity against a vulnerable back line.

After that comes Roma in the Champions League, before Aston Villa visit, with the possibility that United will head into the international break in a weaker position than they are now. A return to Anfield against Liverpool then awaits when the season resumes.