Manchester United Give Michael Carrick More Time Despite Torrid Start to the Season

Manchester United will keep head coach Michael Carrick in charge for their Premier League trip to Chelsea on Saturday, according to BBC Sport. Senior club officials gave Carrick the chance to reverse United's poor form following talks about his future, despite the club picking up only two wins from their first twelve matches of the season.

Carrick was appointed permanent manager in May after guiding United to a third-placed Premier League finish as interim boss. However, a quiet summer transfer window was followed by a dreadful start, with Bruno Fernandes publicly criticising Carrick's tactics after a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. Fernandes was subsequently dropped for a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth.

Despite standing by Carrick, United are also assessing other candidates. Officials are said to be admirers of Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, though Villa would demand around €23.8 million in compensation — a fee that would make Emery the second most expensive managerial appointment in history, behind Julian Nagelsmann's €25 million move from RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich in July 2021. Nagelsmann, currently without a job after leaving the Germany national team, is also considered a candidate, as are Eddie Howe and Antonio Conte.

Wayne Rooney, United's all-time leading goalscorer, has added to the pressure by saying the club is "deluded" if it believes last summer's signings — Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who cost a combined €226 million — are good enough to lift United to the next level.

Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho's representatives have approached Championship club West Ham about a potential move, after the winger left Old Trafford on a free transfer following a disappointing five-year spell.