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Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler is not interested in the Manchester United job if Michael Carrick is sacked any time soon, according to reports. The United boss is under increasing pressure, having won just two of 11 matches so far this season. The Red Devils were hammered 4-1 by Como on a humiliating Champions League night on Wednesday to extend their winless streak to seven successive games. Carrick apologised to those away fans still inside the stadium after full-time, repeatedly holding up both hands in remorse. He later declared that his team's performance was "unacceptable".
But his captain Bruno Fernandes poured fuel on the fire by blaming the defeat in Italy on the team's tactics. The skipper's comments have attracted widespread criticism and only increased the scrutiny on Carrick.
The Red Devils boss, 45, is set to remain in charge for this weekend's visit of Bournemouth to Old Trafford. However, United are drawing up plans in case they are forced to sack their former midfielder if he cannot fix the team's troubles.
Brighton head coach Hurzeler has ruled himself out as a potential candidate, though. TalkSPORT report that the German, who is still only 33, has zero interest in taking the United job.
Hurzeler took over at the AMEX Stadium in June 2024 and will celebrate his 100th match in charge of the Seagulls this weekend when they face Liverpool at Anfield. He remains completely committed to his current club.
Brighton have twice finished eighth under him and currently sit third in the Premier League table after seven games, having scored more goals than any other side in the division with 23. The south coast club have also conceded only five times.
As part of their brilliant start to the season, Brighton dumped United out of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford last month after coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
Yet even if Hurzeler was interested in the United role, the youngest permanent head coach in Premier League history would cost a world-record fee to get him out of his Brighton contract. He is tied down until June 2029 and has no release clause in his deal.
Chelsea paid Brighton £21.5million to appoint Graham Potter from Brighton in September 2022. And prising Hurzeler away from the Seagulls would cost even more than that because they believe he will become one of the world's elite head coaches.
Another contender for the United role, if Carrick is dismissed, is Julian Nagelsmann. The 39-year-old left his role as Germany manager after the World Cup and has since been replaced by Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp.
Nagelsmann remains unemployed and the 39-year-old is an intriguing option having never coached outside of the Bundesliga. The tactician has previously managed Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, winning two trophies with the latter.
Given he is out of work, Nagelsmann is likely to be more receptive to any Old Trafford opening and United are set to sound him out via his representatives over the coming days. The German is expected to listen to any approach.
Asked about his future after the humiliation at the hands of Como, incumbent boss Carrick said: "I 100 per cent take responsibility for the overall team and the performance - that's where it stops. It stops with me and I'm absolutely fine with that.
"I accept that totally. But as a supporter of this football club for so long, to see a performance like that is unacceptable, I have to say. I care an unbelievable amount about the supporters. They are the heartbeat of this football club and they always will be.
"For them to travel, I had to apologise for the performance. To have to watch a performance like that, I totally feel for them. There are no excuses at all. It is not acceptable."
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