Manchester United are currently viewed as 'unlikely' to appoint Julian Nagelsmann as their next manager, if they decide to sack Michael Carrick.

The Red Devils have won just two of their 12 games all season, and made it eight games without a win this past weekend after being crushed 3-0 by Bournemouth at Old Trafford, which came just days after being thrashed 4-1 by Como in the Champions League.

The form and results have left Carrick clinging to his job at Old Trafford, with many believing that he will not be in charge for their next game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

GIVEMESPORT sources understand that succession planning has already begun, with a number of managers including Eddie Howe and Fabian Hurzeler liked by the hierarchy, although the Seagulls boss has ruled himself out of the running as he doesn't want to leave Brighton mid-season.

Another name who has been heavily linked is German boss Nagelsmann, who is a free agent after being sacked by the national team following a disappointing World Cup campaign.

It's understood that Christian Vivell is a big fan of the former Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig manager, and is pushing his name as a potential successor, should Carrick be sacked. But in a surprise update, Laurie Whitwell has revealed that is unlikely at this stage.

Writing in The Athletic, Whitwell revealed that 'people close to the club' view Nagelsmann's appointment as 'unlikely' at this stage. That's despite Unai Emery seemingly being unavailable, and the club being forced to pay around £6m in compensation to Newcastle if they want to appoint Howe, despite him leaving the club in August.

At the time of writing, Carrick has not yet been dismissed as manager, and he arrived at Carrington on Tuesday morning to take training as normal, despite all the speculation around his future.

The former midfielder was also present at the training ground on Monday, despite it being a day off, as he watched a bounce game for the Under-21s against Hull City, which included a number of first-team players such as Shea Lacey.

Vivell Influence Meant Nagelsmann Always Unlikely

While Nagelsmann is clearly one of the outstanding candidates for the role should it become vacant, when you consider his style of play and experience at the top level, it always felt unlikely he would come in.

Vivell is the main man pushing his name, but it has been well documented in recent months that his influence at Old Trafford has dwindled in recent times, and his future at the club is also unclear. It would be odd if INEOS randomly decided to listen to him on such a big decision, when they have been sidelining him recently.

Howe seems to be the frontrunner at this stage, but there are question marks over whether he is the right man for the role. This is a decision that the board simply cannot afford to get wrong after years of underperformance, but it seems that Nagelsmann isn't going to be the man trusted to turn things around.