It is looking increasingly likely that Manchester United will be looking to appoint their next manager in the coming hours or days, and one of their targets has just decided to leave his club, according to an Italian journalist.

Man United chiefs gave Michael Carrick a stay of execution following the successive defeats to Como and Bournemouth, although it is clear that they wanted to see an improvement in the next three matches prior to the international break.

Carrick lost the first of those as the Red Devils were beaten 2-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and it looked as though it would be curtains for the 45-year-old when his team found themselves 2-0 down at home against AS Roma in the Champions League.

United produced a stunning comeback to win that 3-2, before Carrick found himself in a similar situation against Unai Emery's Aston Villa on Sunday.

His side were 2-0 down after just four minutes, but they twice proved their battling qualities to come from two goals down to draw 4-4, with their final two goals both coming in injury time.

It doesn't appear it was enough to convince Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada that he should continue in the job after the international break though, with the duo expected to recommend to Sir Jim Ratcliffe in meetings in Monaco this week that he should be relieved of his duties.

• May 2026 — Manchester United handed Carrick a permanent two-year deal after Champions League qualification.
• August 2026 — Carrick oversaw summer signings including Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba.
• September 2026 — Carrick insisted his squad had improved once the transfer window closed.
• November 2026 — United slipped into the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since 1986 (after 9+ games)
• November 2026 — Carrick on the brink of being sacked after one win in 10 Premier League games.

Should that happen, then United will be looking for their next manager, and there are plenty of names appreciated by the hierarchy.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed that Mauricio Pochettino is emerging as a leading contender for the job out of nowhere, although the Red Devils will need to pay $10m to activate the release clause in his contract as the United States manager.

GMS understands that three free-agent managers in Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte also have their admirers on the board, as well as Simone Inzaghi.

According to a journalist in Italy, posting on X, the former Inter Milan boss has now decided to leave Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal when his contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Inzaghi Has an Impressive CV

While the fact that he may not be available until the end of the season could count against him, there is no doubt that INEOS will be on red alert if he has decided to leave his current role in 2027.

Inzaghi will be one of the best free-agent managers available on the market should he leave Al-Hilal, and not just because of what he has achieved in Saudi Arabia.

The 52-year-old has won 52 of his 69 matches in charge of Al-Hilal, having enjoyed similarly fruitful spells in his home country leading Inter Milan and Lazio.

Inzaghi may be from a background of the notoriously defensive Serie A, but we have seen the striker's attacking instincts come through in his teams' playing style instead.

When he left Inter, they had a goals-per-game record that sat just under two, with a goal difference of +237.

Not only did he win one Serie A title during his time in charge at the San Siro, but he also came close to winning the Champions League on two occasions, with the club beaten finalists in 2023 and 2025.