Manchester United's Champions League loss to Como has ramped up the pressure on Michael Carrick, with several past managerial targets currently available to the club

Manchester United co-owners Ineos may be increasingly inclined to make a change at the helm as Michael Carrick's position comes under fire. Wednesday's Champions League hammering at Como only highlighted how far the club has to go in its bid to one day contend for major honours once again.

The 4-1 defeat leaves United without a win in seven games, though not all the blame lies with the coach. However, the buck will inevitably stop with Carrick, who remains among the favourites to be the first Premier League manager sacked this season.

It leaves United in a very familiar position and could force Ineos to return to the drawing board as it considers a list of potential candidates. And several of those who have been linked with the club in recent years are available for recruitment right now.

Erik ten Hag's position was up for debate in the summer of 2024 before the club ultimately decided to extend his contract. However, The Athletic reported at the time on United's shortlist of possible replacements, which included Thomas Tuchel, Robert De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino.

Each of those coaches are currently off limits: Tuchel is in charge of England, Pochettino has teamed up with the United States and De Zerbi is striving for success at Tottenham. However, Thomas Frank and ex-United assistant Kieran McKenna were among those touted who are currently without jobs.

Frank floundered in a short spell with Spurs before receiving the sack in February, while McKenna stepped down as Ipswich boss after guiding them back to the top flight. McKenna, in particular, could make sense to replace former colleague Carrick, given his five years of experience working in different coaching roles at Old Trafford.

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Prior to Ruben Amorim's appointment in November 2024, it was reported United had added Marco Silva and Graham Potter to their list of targets. Currently on the books with Benfica and Sweden's national team, respectively, each of those names would require a significant severance fee today.

Fast forward to this year, when it was uncertain whether Carrick would get the permanent gig after a bright spell as interim chief. The Athletic reported at the start of the summer that Carlo Ancelotti and Julian Nagelsmann were also being eyed by United.

Both managers were committed to international teams with Brazil and Germany at the time. And while Ancelotti is still preoccupied given his deployment with the Selecao, Nagelsmann has since been sacked by Germany after a disastrous World Cup and would be available at little expense.

Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola and Luis Enrique were the other names bandied about as being of interest to United. However, none of those names looks like a realistic outlet to replace Carrick in the current climate.

Iraola was a free agent at the time after announcing his exit from Bournemouth but is now showing promise at the Liverpool helm. Enrique isn't leaving France after guiding Paris Saint-Germain to successive Champions League titles, while Emery is on course to seal legendary status with rivals Aston Villa.

Of those names currently available, McKenna, Frank and Nagelsmann each come with different appeal but great risk as well. Nagelsmann has never managed in England, though his time in charge of Bayern Munich indicates he can handle the environment of a massive club.

The same can't necessarily be said for the other two, especially after Frank's failed tenure in charge of Tottenham. McKenna's return to United would have a similar feel to Carrick's reunion, given his past links, and he would remain something of an unknown quantity.

Unless the club has other unforeseen names in mind, it appears increasingly likely United's next managerial appointment will come at a cost. And after Carrick's latest slip, Ineos could be opening its cheque book sooner rather than later.