Manchester United have reportedly begun scouting potential replacements for manager Michael Carrick following a deeply disappointing start to the Premier League season.
The club currently sit 13th in the table after collecting just four points from their opening four matches, a record that has set alarm bells ringing at Old Trafford.
United’s early campaign return of one victory, one draw, and two defeats has left the club well below the positions they would have expected to occupy at this stage.
The figures are particularly damaging because United have now equalled their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, matching the same four-point total from four rounds recorded last year.
Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, cited by Calcio Mercato, has reported that Carrick’s position would come under tremendous pressure if the trend of recent results continues.
According to the report, United have already begun identifying candidates who could step in should the club decide a managerial change is necessary in the coming weeks.
Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has emerged on the Red Devils’ radar as a leading option, per the report.
The 57-year-old is currently available for immediate employment after departing Napoli by mutual consent in May of this year.
Conte brings significant Premier League pedigree to the table, having won the league title and the FA Cup with Chelsea during his two-season spell at Stamford Bridge.
His broader body of work across European football further strengthens his credentials and makes him a credible candidate for one of the biggest jobs in English football.
That said, sources suggest Carrick’s position is not yet under immediate threat, and the club could yet give their manager more time to arrest the slide.
United’s next run of fixtures will likely prove decisive in determining whether the hierarchy opts for patience or moves quickly to install a proven replacement.