According to a report by FootballTransfers on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Manchester United have identified Julian Nagelsmann as a leading candidate to replace Michael Carrick following the club's disappointing start to the season.

Carrick's position has come under increasing scrutiny after United suffered a 4-1 defeat against Como in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The former England midfielder was appointed Manchester United manager on a permanent basis during the summer after guiding the club to an impressive end to the previous campaign.

However, the Red Devils have struggled for consistency this season, recording just two victories in 11 matches across all competitions.

According to The Telegraph, Carrick will not be dismissed immediately following the defeat in Italy, although another disappointing performance against Bournemouth on Sunday could increase the pressure on him.

There is also a possibility that United could allow the manager to remain in charge until the next international break in November.

Captain Bruno Fernandes has added to the scrutiny after questioning aspects of the team's tactical approach against Como.

Asked whether the tactics were wrong, Fernandes said: "That's on the manager and on the staff to see, it is not on me. I just said that I think sometimes we have to be more brave under pressure, trying to take the risk of getting that press very high and making them uncomfortable, as they did to us."

The Portuguese midfielder's comments have intensified discussions surrounding Carrick's leadership as the club considers its options.

Nagelsmann, who previously managed Bayern Munich and currently leads Germany, has reportedly emerged as a leading candidate should United decide to make a change.

The 39-year-old is understood to be interested in the position, with club officials believed to favour a manager with a stronger personality and an established reputation.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte is reportedly not being considered because of concerns about his suitability for United's long-term project.

Football expert Ronan Murphy believes Nagelsmann's experience developing players could make him an attractive option for the Manchester club.

He highlighted the German's work at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, where he helped players improve and delivered strong results before moving to Bayern Munich.

However, questions remain over whether Nagelsmann would welcome the challenges associated with managing a club where off-field issues frequently attract attention.