Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have emerged as the leading candidates to take charge at Manchester United, should the club decide to part ways with head coach Michael Carrick following a disappointing start to the season.

Sources indicate that both managers feature prominently in United's ongoing search for a potential replacement, and that each is aware of the club's interest in them. Carrick's position at Old Trafford is under serious threat as the 20-time English top-flight champions look to appoint their eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013.

Howe the frontrunner

Howe, 48, has been without a club since departing Newcastle United in the summer. During his five years at St James' Park, he ended the Magpies' 56-year wait for silverware by guiding them to League Cup glory in 2025 and secured two UEFA Champions League qualifications.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that the former Bournemouth and Burnley manager is fully open to taking the Old Trafford role if Carrick is dismissed.

Nagelsmann and Conte also available

Nagelsmann, 39, is also without a club after stepping down as Germany head coach following a last-32 World Cup exit on penalties to Paraguay last summer — a campaign that had also seen them fall to Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. He built his reputation at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before joining Bayern Munich in 2021, where he won the Bundesliga title in 2022 before being sacked the following season.

Antonio Conte, 57, is another out-of-work option who has expressed interest in the role. The Italian won Serie A titles with Juventus, Inter Milan, and Napoli, as well as the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018. He has also been linked with a return to Juventus, but remains open to taking the United job.

Emery admired but under contract

Unai Emery is held in high regard at United after guiding Aston Villa to UEFA Champions League qualification twice since arriving in 2022. However, his contract runs until 2029, which would make any approach for the Spaniard complicated. Emery, 54, has won five UEFA Europa League trophies across stints at Sevilla, Villarreal, and Aston Villa, and also brought domestic success to Paris Saint-Germain — though his 18-month spell at Arsenal ended in the sack in 2019.

Other names in the frame

Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler, 33, is also well regarded at Old Trafford, having led St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga in 2024 before impressing in his time with the Seagulls. However, Brighton would have little interest in releasing him, and the financial terms of any such deal would present a further obstacle for United.

Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas, 39, has drawn fresh attention after his Como side delivered a stunning 4-1 defeat to United on Wednesday — a result that intensified pressure on Carrick. The former Arsenal midfielder has earned widespread praise for steering Como from Serie B all the way to the UEFA Champions League, and is regarded as one of Europe's brightest young coaches.